Van Jaarsveld To The Fore
Van Jaarsveld - Top All-round Performance.
An exceptional performance with both bat and ball from Martin Van Jaarsveld gave Kent the chance of what had earlier looked like an unlikely victory in the County Championship Division One match against Surrey at The Oval.
The visitors go into the final day on 166 for five, needing 92 runs to win, having bowled Surrey out for just 130 in their second innings.
The South African notched 20 runs to finish on an unbeaten 115 in the first innings, took a career-best five for 33 with the ball and ground out an unbeaten 70 after tea.
Kent's chase of 258 got off to a rocky start, Rob Key bowled by Jade Dernbach on his first ball before Pedro Collins saw off James Tredwell (two) lbw and Joe Denly (18) caught behind to leave the visitors on 28 for three.
But Van Jaarsveld, dropped by Scott Newman at second slip from Abdul Razzaq when on just 21, forged a 95-run fourth-wicket partnership with Darren Stevens, who made 63 off just 67 balls before being stumped from Saqlain Mushtaq.
With six overs remaining, Justin Kemp was brilliantly caught by Matthew Spriegel at short leg from Saqlain Mushtaq for three.
Earlier, Kent had added just 35 runs to their overnight score of 235 for seven, leaving Surrey seemingly in complete command with a healthy 127-run lead.
But after Surrey openers Spriegel and Scott Newman had put on 50, Spriegel trod on his own stump from a Van Jaarsveld delivery to signal somewhat of a collapse from the home side.
Mark Ramprakash's quest for his 100th first-class century ended on the first ball of his innings two overs later, the Surrey captain going for a big hit from Van Jaarsveld and getting caught at head height by Ryan McLaren at mid wicket.
Tredwell claimed two wickets in successive balls soon after, bowling Jonathan Batty through the gate for three before getting Usman Afzaal to edge one to wicket keeper Geraint Jones.
And when Ali Brown (three) was caught and bowled and Abdul Razzaq lbw to Van Jaarsveld in the second over after lunch, Surrey looked in danger of imploding completely on 78 for six.
Van Jaarsveld got his final wicket of the match when he got Newman lbw for 72, with this being the first time that he has ever taken more than two wickets in a first-class innings.
Surrey's last three wickets fell within four overs of each other, with Chris Schofield bowled by Yasir Arafat for 20, Saqlain run out for eight and Collins stumped from Tredwell for a duck.