CENTURION Adam Lyth believes Yorkshire can beat Surrey and the weather to claim a shock win at the Oval today.

The ongoing Specsavers County Championship match has been ravaged by rain, with 142 overs lost across the first two days.

That made a positive result for either side highly unlikely, but the champions have dominated what play has been possible to give themselves a sniff.

Yorkshire bowled Surrey out for 267 on the stroke of lunch yesterday after the hosts started day three on 164-5, with Adil Rashid striking twice in an over.

Lyth then continued his impressive summer in four-day and one-day cricket with an unbeaten 116 as the visitors closed at 207-3 from 65 overs, a deficit of 60.

It was his third Championship century added to two in one-day cricket, and he shared a third-wicket stand of 150 inside 49 overs with captain Andrew Gale.

Gale’s 61 represented his first fifty of 2016.

Yorkshire must increase their scoring rate markedly this morning to give themselves any chance of winning.

They have the power down the order to get a lead in the region of 150, which would also bring them five batting bonus points.

They would then have two sessions, or likely a little less, to produce something special with the ball.

“There's no reason why we can't win, but it will be very tough from where we are,” admitted Lyth, whose 19th first-class century came on the ground where he played the last of his seven Test Matches last August.

“A lot's got to happen. In that first hour, we can't lose too many wickets. We've got to have a lot of wickets in the shed for that second hour of the morning.

“But, if we get a decent lead and put them under pressure, you never know what can happen.”

Lyth is currently at the crease with night-watchman Steve Patterson, who came in for the last 4.4 overs of the day following Gale’s departure caught behind off Tom Curran.

The in-form opener hit two sixes off the spin of Gareth Batty and Zafar Ansari on the way to his 159-ball century, secured after tea.

Yorkshire had lost two early wickets to slip to 47-2 in the 13th over of their reply.

Alex Lees was bowled by Sam Curran and Jack Leaning chopped on to Stuart Meaker’s first ball.

Yorkshire’s bowlers had started an impressive day with five morning wickets, including Rashid’s two.

Patterson struck with his second ball of the morning, the fourth of the day in all, when Ben Foakes edged him to second slip.

Steven Davies and Sam Curran, who both hit fifties, then shared 75 for the seventh wicket before the former was trapped lbw by Tim Bresnan as the score slipped to 239-7 in the 73rd over.

Rashid then trapped Tom Curran and Gareth Batty lbw in the space of five balls in the 78th before Azeem Rafiq had Meaker caught at slip to wrap up the innings.

"It was nice to get the five wickets early on and then go out and bat like we did,” added Lyth. “It's a good wicket, but very slow when the ball's straight.

“We were in a bit of strife at 40-2 before me and Galey put on that great partnership.”