COACH Alan Richardson is hopeful Worcestershire can capitalise against leaders Surrey after getting "just slightly ahead of the game".

The visitors to Blackfinch New Road need only four more points to seal their first County Championship title for 16 years.

But Surrey were indebted to another impressive display from opener Rory Burns on a testing second day.

Burns made an unbeaten 103 in 213-6 in reply to bottom-of-the-table Worcestershire's 336 all out.

And County head bowling coach Richardson said: “The game has moved forward. You’d like to think we are slightly ahead of it.

“I think we batted well with a lot of patience, a lot of resilience.

"It was really good for us to bat that period of time to give us a chance to get a decent score on a wicket that looks like it has done a bit the whole way through against a very good attack.

“I think we are just slightly ahead of the game at the moment.

“It is quite difficult for a new batter. That has been proven throughout the game so far but once you get settled there are guys capable of scoring big runs.

“Ross Whiteley got 90 and Rory played very well.”

Surrey knew maximum batting points would enable them to secure the silverware.

But they were made to work hard by a Wayne Parnell-inspired, relegation-fighting Worcestershire side.

First the South African shepherded the County to three batting points with a disciplined 42 in their 336 in 116.4 overs after recovering from 165-5.

Then the 29-year-old’s opening spell brought him the wickets of Mark Stoneman and Dean Elgar for ducks.

He dismissed Ollie Pope (48) before leaving the field with the webbing of his right hand strapped up after fielding a return drive from Burns.

Steady morning rain prevented play before lunch but both teams quickly made up for lost time as the ball generally held sway over bat.

The hosts began the day on 288-6 and Morne Morkel dismissed Ed Barnard without addition to his overnight 63.

A square drive for four by Parnell off the same over brought up the 300.

But Tom Curran collected wickets in successive overs with Ben Twohig (2) caught behind and Josh Tongue (5) pouched at short cover.

Parnell’s determined effort ended when he pushed forward to Amar Virdi and nicked through to Rikki Clarke at slip.

He had defied the Surrey attack for 104 balls and struck six boundaries.

Parnell immediately rocked Surrey back by bowling Stoneman and having Elgar caught at backward point by Barnard from successive deliveries.

Pope survived the hat-trick ball but was dropped by Daryl Mitchell at second slip from his third delivery in the same over.

Burns and Pope counter-attacked after tea in a partnership of 97 in only 23 overs.

But Parnell switched ends and enjoyed a third success when Pope drove at the left-armer and was caught behind.

It became 135-4 when spinner Twohig accounted for Will Jacks (17) who tried to work the ball through mid-wicket and was bowled.

Burns continued on unflustered and found a willing partner in Clarke (33) in adding 68 for the fifth wicket.

Two wickets fell in two overs near to the close.

Clarke (33) was undone by a Ross Whiteley lifter which he nicked to the keeper and Curran (0) fell at first slip off Tongue.

But Burns completed his ton from 165 balls with 16 fours thanks to a single off Mitchell.

Ben Foakes could not bat because of illness but is expected to be fit enough to participate on the third day.