Former England batsmen Mark Ramprakash and Mark Butcher look set for a key role in Surrey's London derby against Middlesex at Lord's.

At the halfway stage of the finely balanced LV County Championship Division Two clash, Surrey stand 186 for two in reply to Middlesex's 385.

However, veterans Ramprakash and Butcher, unbeaten on 64 and 48 respectively in a stand so far worth 99, are in a good position to put Middlesex under real pressure on the third day.

With a lifeless pitch becoming increasingly dusty, Middlesex captain Shaun Udal used his own off spin in tandem with Murali Kartik, the Indian slow left-armer, for 18 overs on the second evening.

In a battle of patience with Ramprakash, especially, Kartik bowled from over the wicket into the rough on and outside the right-hander's leg stump.

But Ramprakash would not be tempted, repeatedly padding away and then reaching his 50 with a seventh boundary, square on the offside, when Kartik at last dropped short.

Butcher then produced a whiplash pull for four and a regal extra-cover-driven boundary when Udal reintroduced Steve Finn for a late burst from the Pavilion End.

Finn had earlier come closest to removing Ramprakash, who had scored just a single when he survived a confident lbw shout from the 20-year old fast bowler before, later in the same over, edging him only inches short of Neil Dexter at first slip.

Useful late-order runs from Dawid Malan, David Nash and Udal had earlier enabled Middlesex to add another 116 to their overnight score of 269 for five, but Surrey bowled with great discipline throughout.

Andre Nel, the former South Africa fast bowler, led the attack outstandingly to take four for 59, but rookie off-spinner Simon King also impressed.

The 21-year old King, Surrey-born and a product of the county's academy, was making his first-class debut on his very first visit to Lord's, and took the last three Middlesex wickets to fall in the space of five overs to earn himself tidy figures of three for 61.

If Ramprakash, Butcher and the rest of the Surrey middle-order can push on, King and fellow off-spinner Murtaza Hussain could yet have a leading role to play on the final day.