Surrey posted 433 with the bat before making early in-roads with the ball on the second day at Lord’s
Surrey managed to restrict Middlesex to 53/4 before Max Holden and John Simpson added 116 for the fifth wicket.
Holden fell shortly before the close, but a defiant Simpson will start the third day 55 not out with Middlesex 179-5 after Sean Abbott took two of the wickets.
Earlier Surrey passed 400 with day one centurion Jamie Smith finishing on 138 and Jordan Clark 78. Middlesex seamer Tom Helm completed a career-best 6-110.
Stand-in skipper Mark Stoneman briefly suggested a positive response to Surrey’s substantial first innings total, creaming two early off drives through the covers, but it proved a false dawn as with only 11 against his name he feathered a good one from Clark through to wicketkeeper Ben Foakes.
Surrey managed to put the squeeze on Pieter Malan and Sam Robson before Overton found Malan’s under-edge giving Foakes a comfortable catch.
Robson, a centurion last week at Merchant Taylors’ was undone by one from Sean Abbott which came back into him up the slope and went off the inside edge onto the stumps via the thigh pad.
Tom Lawes took the wicket of Jack Davies – in the Middlesex side for the injured Stephen Eskinazi, with Dom Sibley taking a good catch in the slips.
After tea, Holden displayed some of the T20 form which earned a wildcard pick from the Manchester Originals for the upcoming Hundred, driving well off front and back foot, while Simpson played one delightful cut and acquired an all run four courtesy of an overthrow.
Holden’s sixth four through third man took him to his second championship half century of the season from 93 balls before Simpson too found the fence to raise the century stand.
Simpson’s own half century came in the grand manner with a six into the Mound Stand, but just as it looked as if Middlesex would reach stumps without further loss, Abbott found the edge of Holden’s bat and a diving Sibley did the rest.
Earlier, Surrey resumed on 312-5, and save for a six over square leg by Clark off Ryan Higgins, made steady progress before first day century maker Smith was bowled by Tom Helm.
Clark eased his way to a 91-ball 50 though he was later unsettled, not to say frustrated by Ethan Bamber beating him outside the off stump with five successive deliveries. The young seamer, who had somehow gone wicketless on day one finally got reward when Abbott hoisted him into the hands of Malan at deep square.
Clark’s fine effort ended when Tim Murtagh got one to bounce and take the edge which flew to Robson at slip and while a few lusty blows from Overton delayed the lunch interval, Helm cleaned up the tail for his first ever six-for in championship cricket.
