Yorkshire will have to play like true champions today if they are to beat title-holders Surrey and hold on to their comfortable lead at the top of the CricInfo Division One table.

Set to make 356 for victory, they battled away to 50 for one by yesterday's close, still 306 runs away from their target.

If the get there, it will be the biggest winning fourth inn-ings score in the club's history, beating the 331 for eight against Middlesex at Lord's in 1910, but it is a very tall order.

Pacemen Martin Bicknell and Ed Giddins have both been a handful so far in this game, and spinner Saqlain Mushtaq has also created his usual problems.

Rain soon after midday caused 42 overs of the day's ration to be lost, but there was still enough play for Surrey to work their way into a commanding position - and for off-spinner Richard Dawson to claim career-best figures of six 98 - the finest by a York-shire slow bowler here for many years.

Dawson added two wickets to the four he took on the previous day, and the other three were collected by Gavin Hamilton, who finished with three for 66.

It was a particularly useful contributioin from Hamilton because Steven Kirby looked jaded during his morning spell, and Ryan Sidebottom was unable to play any part because of a groin strain which is likely to keep him out for at least the next ten days.

Surrey were already well placed at the start of the day at 171 for four, when their overall lead was 245, and Ben Holli-oake was the main contributor to their final score of 281 with 68.

Yorkshire were left with 24 overs to bat last night. Chris Taylor and Matthew Wood gently eased themselves in against good bowling from Bicknell and Giddins, but having made 15 Taylor let a ball from Bicknell hit his pad and was given out lbw.

Wood, who was in 12 overs before hitting his first boundary, remained watchful, and so did Anthony McGrath.

lMatthew Hoggard will return to action for Yorkshire Phoenix against Surrey Lions at Headingley tomorrow - provided he comes through his Bradford League game for Baildon at Pudsey Congs today.

Yorkshire Phoenix (v Surrey Lions) from: Wood, Hamilton, McGrath, Lehmann, Fellows, Byas, Blakey, Dawson, Elstub, Hoggard, Gray, Bresnan.