Surrey's dogged last-day resistance thwarted promotion-chasing Northamptonshire's victory hopes as the Brown Caps survived three sessions to secure a hard-earned draw at the Oval.

When the teams shook hands on a draw just before the start to the final hour's play, the Brown Caps had reached a stoic 282 for nine in their second innings for an overall lead of 166.

Unable to prize out fast bowler Alex Tudor, the tail-ender batted almost two hours for a dogged 20, or Surrey's last man James Anyon, the visitors eventually agreed to the draw and took home 12 points to Surrey's 10.

The day started with Northamptonshire firm favourites to wrap up a sixth win of the season that might apply pressure on run-away leaders Kent.

But Surrey, seemingly in trouble on 116 for three - effectively nought for three - had other ideas.

They suffered an early setback when Sri Lankan Arun Harinath (20) nicked the sixth ball of the day from Lee Daggett through to wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien. It was the second time in the game Harinath had chased a wide drive in the game and at 119 for four Surrey were in the mire.

But a let-off for Matt Spriegel when on three, he edged between O'Brien and first slip Andrew Hall with neither laying a hand on it, allowed Usman Afzaal and Spriegel to join forces in a crucial fifth-wicket stand that added 52 in 23 overs.

Northamptonshire's hopes were raised just before lunch when Afzaal (31) was beaten in the flight by Boje and wrapped on the back pad by a turning ball to go leg before and make it 197 for five at lunch.

The visitors let themselves down again soon after the break when Chris Schofield was downed at slip by Hall when a cut shot against Boje slipped through the slip fielder's hands to hit him in the chest.

Spriegel went on to post a vital 130-ball 50 with five fours but he and Schofield perished in quick succession to leave the East Midlands' county scenting victory once more as Spriegel went leg before to a full-pitched ball from Daggett which hit his boot. Schofield lost his off stump to another quick, full delivery from the impressive Daggett.

But Tudor and Jade Dernbach survived beyond tea and by the time Monty Panesar snared Dernbach leg before for four, for only his second wicket of the game, Surrey had virtually assured their own survival.

Tudor, doing his utmost to throttle back his attacking tendencies, survived 102 balls in all and eventually Boje agreed on the draw just after 4.20pm to vastly improve Surrey's hopes of avoiding the wooden spoon.