The appearance of Kevin Pietersen caused quite a stir in Cambridge's cricket-watching population and a solid 200 people found their way to Fenner's to watch Surrey play the Cambridge MCCU team on Thursday.

The day was overcast but Surrey chose to bat – a decision, which looked instantly at fault when their opener Wilson was bowled between bat and pad in the first over by Peter Turnbull.

However, Surrey's number 2 and 3 were able to consolidate efficiently and saw off the rest of the opening spell without any trouble. They had put 71 on the board in quick time when Matthew Spriegel was stumped in Paul Best's second over.

This brought Pietersen to the crease and the excitement in the crowd was palpable. He announced his entry with a crisp straight drive for four off Sadler. Shortly after, however, he very nearly ran himself out for 8 going for a quick single to point which was never there.

Pietersen's innings was a strange one overall – for the most part scratchy, always to be expected after a long lay-off from injury, but punctuated by two huge straight sixes off Best. One of these cleared the pavilion, causing the crowd to reminisce about his straight six off Brett Lee on his 2005 Ashes debut which cleared the pavilion at Lord's. Although, this perhaps only went to underline the extent to which this fabulously talented batsman has failed to fulfil the potential he showed in the early part of his career.

While Pietersen held the crowd's attention, the opener, Arun Harinath, was quietly putting together an  excellent innings and made his fifty shortly before lunch. Particularly strong off his legs, Harinath showed great touch throughout his innings and the morning session very much belonged to him.

Lunch was called with Surrey on 131/2 and looking fairly comfortable. But Woolley's decision to go with spin from both ends after lunch was to pay immediate dividends.

Zafar Ansari, who has himself recently secured a contract for Surrey this season, led the charge from the Pavilion end. He had Pietersen snaffled at slip in the first over after lunch and removed Lancefield lbw in his next.

With the spinners at both ends, Cambridge started to control the match in a way they were unable to in the first session. Soon after, the captain Woolley managed to hit one stump to run out the excellent Harinath for 80. The Surrey collapse continued with Ansari impressing his future employers and completing his five-for with the wickets of Burns, Edwards and Jewell, who had looked dangerous in making 61 to marshal the tail to a competitive total.

Ansari finished with figures of 5 for 33. Best chipped in with the wicket of King for a duck and Surrey finished their innings on 234 for 9 declared.

After his excellent bowling display, Ansari came out to open for Cambridge and was caught in the slips in the second over off Edwards only for the delivery to be ruled a front foot no-ball. He and Ben Ackland then set about putting on 101 for the first wicket at a lively pace. Both looked set to make their half-centuries before Ansari was captured leg-before for 41 by an excellent delivery from Jewell which cut back off the seam.

Ackland was soon to follow for a score of 45 and, with two new batsmen at the crease, Cambridge looked vulnerable. So it was to prove, as Philip Hughes was caught behind off the same bowler soon after for 6. Cambridge then looked to have consolidated thanks to some aggressive batting from Woolley before the captain drove straight to a fielder on 25 off what proved to be the last ball of the day.

Those who were willing to escape the tyranny of exam term for the promise of seeing Kevin Pietersen were rewarded with a compelling day's cricket, which ended with the match neatly poised. The overcast conditions favoured bowlers all day but, whatever the case over the next two days of the game, Cambridge gave a good account of themselves against an accomplished county side.