An unbeaten 87 from Chris Schofield and a career-best 61 for Matt Spriegel revitalised the Surrey innings as the visitors reached 304 for six by the close on the opening day of the LV County Championship Division Two fixture against Essex at Colchester.

Having won the toss and elected to bat, the visitors were in trouble having lost half their wickets with only 136 on the board but Schofield and Spriegel pulled matters around with a stand of 127 before being parted with the total looking far healthier.

Mark Ramprakash, who was suggested by some pundits for a return to the international arena for the deciding Ashes Test this week, looked in imposing form, soon striking a couple of imperious boundaries.

Watched by national selector Geoff Miller, the batsman dominated the bowling to ease his way to a sublime 33 that included a six and five other boundaries but then a moment of indiscretion brought an end to an innings that had promised rich pickings.

Essex wasted little time in picking up their first wicket when Michael Brown fell to the ninth ball of the day as Chris Wright found the edge to give wicketkeeper James Foster the first of three catches.

Ramprakash joined Jon Batty and stroked a boundary through gully as the pair settled in but with the score on 39, Batty fell victim to leg-spinner Danish Kaneria's third ball, pushing forward to steer the ball to Mark Pettini at first slip.

Ramprakash responded by straight driving the Pakistan bowler over the boundary boards and then sweeping him to the ropes to raise the tempo in a third-wicket partnership with Surrey captain Stewart Walters.

It was paceman David Masters that ended Ramprakash's 81-ball innings just before lunch when the batsman's intended cut to a wider ball found the bottom edge and he was caught behind to leave Surrey 100 for three.

Walters played enterprisingly to reach 41 before he gloved a lifting delivery from Chris Wright to the keeper.

Usman Afzaal became the fifth wicket to fall when he pushed forward to become a second victim for the Pettini and Kaneria combination, leaving Schofield and Spriegel to rebuild the damage which they did with impressive effect as they nearly doubled the score.

The pair stroked and drove their way to a 127 partnership in 36 overs as both completed half-centuries to frustrate their opponents.

Schofield took 83 balls that included eight fours to reach the milestone whilst Spriegel was more conservative, facing 122 balls.

But having advanced onto 61, he was caught at mid-off to give left-arm spinner Tim Phillips a wicket in his first championship match of the season.

Schofield remained defiant and by the close he was on the verge of a maiden first-class century having ensured a third batting bonus point for the visitors.