SOURAV Ganguly was in the wars at the Oval today as Lancashire's hopes of beating Surrey virtually disappeared.

The Indian aggravated his groin problem and was then struck a painful blow on the finer as Surrey extended their first innings from 191-6 to 310 all out.

Ganguly was fit to open the Lancashire innings with John Crawley. But the definitely won't bowl in this match and could be doubtful for Lancashire's three National League games next week ahead of the NatWest Trophy semi-final against Gloucestershire on Sunday week.

"My groin is giving me a lot of pain," said Ganguly, who first suffered the injury bowling at Headingley last weekend.

"I was not going to bowl in this game anyway, but then I hurt it again diving for a catch in the slips.

"I will try to rest it for a week and hopefully I will be able to bowl in the semi-final."

Meanwhile Lancashire were playing for bonus points today after being frustrated by the weather and some stubborn resistance from the Surrey tail.

They did not take a wicket in two rain-ruined sessions before tea yesterday, then Martin Bicknell, Ian Salisbury and Alex Tudor added 109 for the last four wickets to secure three precious batting points for the First Division leaders.

Mike Smethurst claimed two more wickets to end with 6-63, taking his tally of first class c=wickets in his first full season to 43.

But it was an impressive Surrey recovery from 12-3 on the first morning, and a near repeat of Lancashire's last game when Yorkshire came back for 207-6 to make 376. Without Muttiah Muralitharan, they are struggling to find a killer punch. SURREY

M Butcher c Fairbrother b Smethurst ... 4

I Ward c Flintoff b Smethurst ... 6

N Shahid lbw Smethurst ... 1

A Hollioake c Hegg b Scuderi ... 80

A Brown c Flintoff b Smethurst ... 54

B Hollioake lbw Scuderi ... 24

J Batty b Chapple ... 12

M Bicknell c Flintoff b Smethurst ... 28

I Salisbury lbw Smethurst ... 35

A Tudor b Flintoff ... 35

Saqlain Mushtaq not out ... 4

Extras ... 27

Total (all out) ... 310

Bowling: Chapple 32-8-78-1; Smethurst 29-12-63-6; Scuderi 21-5-65-2; Keedy 13-3-38-0; Flintoff 4.5-1-14-1; Schofield 11-3-35-0