County Championship: Surrey build big lead against Warwickshire at Edgbaston

Surrey all-rounder Sam Curran's 62 with the bat at Edgbaston followed his 5-44 with the ball on Sunday

Kumar Sangakkara hit 88 against his old county and Sam Curran also made a half-century as Surrey batted most of the day against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Curran weighed in with 62, coming in at number eight, backed up by first-innings half-centurion Rory Burns (49), Steven Davies (42) and nightwatchman Stuart Meaker (41), to help total 390.

That left the Bears with a daunting chase of 396 - and they began badly.

Ian Westwood went third ball to Tom Curran as the hosts closed on 2-1.

After resuming on 33-1, Surrey's lead was up to 117 by lunchtime after Meaker had batted throughout the first session for an unbeaten 29, his highest score in two years.

Former Sri Lanka left-hander Sangakkara, back from helping the Tallawahs win the Caribbean Premier League, then made the smooth transition from T20 to four-day cricket with a stylish half century, as he played first-class cricket for the first time in two months.

Sangakkara, who played for Warwickshire in 2007, shared a third-wicket stand of 60 with Meaker, who eventually batted almost three hours for his 41, before he was caught behind pushing forward to off-spinner Jeetan Patel.

Wicketkeeper Davies then passed 1,000 first-class runs for the season for a sixth time in making 42 before three sixes and five fours came in a 56-ball cameo from the younger of the two Curran brothers.

The return of Chris Wright (4-75) got rid of Davies at deep mid-wicket, and both Curran brothers caught behind by Tim Ambrose.

But, when Mark Footitt holed out to long on to leave Warwickshire with an uncomfortable two overs to face, Westwood quickly departed, lbw.

Warwickshire captain Ian Bell told BBC WM:

"We have got to get out there and bat the day. In some ways it's a good challenge for this group of players to get through.

"It's been a frustrating three days and couple of weeks, so we have got to get out there and make sure we fight as much as we can for Warwickshire.

"It's a big day for us. Win this game, we are in the mix. Lose this game, then we have got to fight for the rest of the season to make sure we are still in Division One.

"It's not panic stations but I want the guys to be fighting for Warwickshire. I hope we have that mindset. It's not about waiting for the next game. I want to make sure to everyone in the dressing room that this the most important day we have had this season."

Surrey fast bowler Stuart Meaker told BBC Radio London:

"We definitely owe them one. They out-performed us (in Warwickshire's win in July) at Guildford and we were caught napping a little bit.

"We didn't post enough runs and a great partnership between Bell and Trott saw them gain a lead and they pushed on from there.

"This time the shoe seems to be on the other foot. We have posted a good first-innings total and backed it up with a better second-innings total.

"They are a good side, so they are not going to just fold. It's going to be hard work, we can't go chasing the game. But we are in a really good position."