Kevin Pietersen imperiously took charge of a damage limitation exercise as Surrey responded to a batting failure against Worcestershire in the LV= County Championship at New Road.

In his only county match before the first Test against West Indies at Lord’s next week, the England batsman was dismissed for 11 in a collapse for 113, but cruised to 69 from 85 balls as Surrey reached 216 for four after following on 172 behind.

They go into the final day holding a lead of 44, with Rory Hamilton-Brown (50 not out) and Tom Maynard (63 not out) together in a partnership already worth 91.

The difference between a cloudy morning – when Pietersen was out, caught behind, driving at Richard Jones’ fifth delivery – and easier conditions on a sunny afternoon was measured by the way he collared the bowling.

He demonstrated exactly why he believes he has never batted better as he dominated a stand of 87 with ex-County wicketkeeper Steven Davies (24). His 50 arrived during an assault which brought 31 from 11 balls by Moeen Ali and James Cameron, but with 10 fours and a six in the book, he was lured into an error as the impressive Jones claimed his eighth wicket of the day.

Advancing down he pitch, he was forced to rein back his attacking move when the ball bounced and left him a shade. A hasty defensive jab only directed a catch to Daryl Mitchell at second slip. It was a disappointing end to a rousing counter-attack.

Jacques Rudolph, last out in the first innings after batting for 68, departed again in quick time and Mark Ramprakash registered his second duck of the day, a thin edge carrying to wicketkeeper Ben Scott.

With Jones’ second innings return of four for 71, County’s seamers have now shared 65 wickets in five championship matches.

Davies, flashing to gully, and Ramprakash, leg-before as he propped forward, went in successive overs from David Lucas (four for 37) and Jones (four for 50) followed up his first-over dismissal of Pietersen by removing Hamilton-Brown with an edge to slip.

It would have been worse for Surrey if Mitchell had not put down two slip chances from Rudolph before he reached double figures. The South African went on to complete his first 50 for Surrey but the only lasting support came from debutant George Edwards, who made 17 in a ninth-wicket stand of 60.

Alan Richardson (two for 22) closed the innings but the tide turned against County when he left the field with a strained upper right arm after only nine deliveries in the second innings.