LONDON, May 10: Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood took all five wickets to fall so far in the Lancashire second innings as Surrey gave their title rivals something to think about on the second day of the current round of English County Championship matches Thursday.

At the close Lancashire were 124 for five in their second innings of the first division clash at The Oval.

Azhar, deputising for Pakistan team-mate Saqlain Mushtaq in the early weeks of the season as Surrey’s overseas player, took five for 24 with his medium-paced seamers.

Earlier, ahead of Saturday’s England squad announcement for next week’s first Test against Sri Lanka, Surrey fast bowler Alex Tudor gave the selectors a reminder of his all-round ability with a top score of 61 out of Surrey’s 216.

Despite seeing Alec Swann, Mark Chilton, David Byas, first innings centurion Andrew Flintoff and Graham Lloyd all become Azhar victims, Lancashire still reached stumps with a lead of 228.

Elsewhere in the top flight Australia’s Michael Bevan converted his overnight 99 not out into 146 as Leicestershire piled up 523 against Warwickshire at Grace Road.

Bevan, widely acknowledged as the world’s best one-day batsman, reached three figures with a single off his first ball of the day from South Africa captain Shaun Pollock.

He faced 251 balls for his hundred, including a six and 16 fours. After adding six more bounadries he was stumped off Ashley Giles, the England left-arm spinner finishing with five for 126.

Bevan then capped a memorable day when his wrist spin snared James Troughton lbw for 12 leaving Warwickshire in trouble at 36 for three at stumps.

Former Zimbabwe all-rounder Neil Johnson took two for three as Kent subsided to 118 in reply to Hampshire’s 345 at the Rose Bowl.

But it was another pace-bowling all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas who did the bulk of the damage with four for 49.

At the close Kent, following-on, were 148 for four, still 79 runs behind.

At Taunton, England all-rounder Craig White made 69 out of champions Yorkshire’s second innings 280 for nine against Somerset.

Ian Blackwell had earlier made 114 for Somerset with forgotten England quick Chris Silverwood taking four for 28. At the close Yorkshire led by 261 runs.

In the second division, England all-rounder Dominic Cork was also in the wickets, the Derbyshire captain’s seam bowling giving him a haul of four for 29 as Northamptonshire collapsed to 131 all out.

The visitors were forced to follow-on at Derby after the home side’s crushing 538.

Northamptonshire’s Australian captain Michael Hussey was 56 not out as they closed on 100 without loss second time around.

At Trent Bridge the bowlers stayed on top with Essex captain and former England all-rounder Ronnie Irani taking six for 71 as Nottinghamshire were bowled out for 213 in reply to the visitors 130.

By the close Essex had collapsed again to 215 for seven, South African-born but England qualified quick Greg Smith claiming five for 38.

Meanwhile, at New Road, Glamorgan speedster Darren Thomas took five for 77 as Worcestershire were bowled out for 298.

At the close, the Welsh county were 38 without loss in their second innings, a lead of 26.

Thursday’s scores

(Day two of four):

Division one: