Jamie Dalrymple succeeded in writing his name into the annals of Transpontine history again yesterday, by making the highest first-class score by a Middlesex player against Surrey, thus beating Denis Compton’s 235 at Lord’s in 1946.

His 244 was also a new career best for the 23-year-old former Oxford University student, who no longer needs to rely on Andrew Strauss keeping his place in the England team – although that also looks a certainty after his county skipper’s hundred on Test debut. Dalrymple batted for just over seven hours. His innings lasted 306 balls and included 38 fours.

With Chad Keegan also making a career best 44 in 52 deliveries, the visitors look safe for the draw going into the final day. Given Surrey’s form with the bat of late it would not be stretching the imagination too greatly to envisage a Middlesex win.

In truth, though, it would take a woeful performance from the Brown Caps, on a good pitch, to go down to their North London rivals for the second time this season in the County Championship – something that has not occurred in these parts for 21 years.

Should the home side narrowly avoid defeat they will be grateful for the loss of two sessions on day three. Only 34 overs were possible yesterday due to heavy overnight rain and intermittent showers hampering the mopping-up operation, which required a second water-clearing machine to be pressed into action after the first one appeared to expire.

When play did finally commence at 4.15pm, Dalrymple simply started where he left off on Thursday night, punching anything loose and full in length through the leg-side.

Martin Bicknell’s tiring eleven-over opening spell, which cost just 36 runs, only produced the wicket of David Nash; though the veteran seamer beat the outside edge a number of times and had a good shout for leg before against Dalrymple turned down by umpire George Sharp.

After Jimmy Ormond went for 32 off five overs from the Vauxhall End, Jonathan Batty turned to Tim Murtagh who obliged by taking the wicket of Lance Klusener with his second ball.

Chad Keegan, showing a penchant for the pull stroke – which he used to take his side past 450 and, again, to deposit Rikki Clarke over the rope in the 22-year-old’s opening over – helped add a further 71 in just over an hour for the eighth wicket.

After losing Dalrymple, who was bowled playing across the line of a slower ball, and Keegan, who was caught hooking to long leg, in quick succession Middlesex opted to insert their hosts for five overs.

Surrey, who started their second innings 128 in arrears, lost their captain, lbw for the second time in the match, in the last over of the day. However, not before words were exchanged, nose to nose, between the normally phlegmatic Batty and Nash, the Middlesex wicketkeeper.

The anticipated announcement regarding Surrey’s capture of Zaheer Khan did not materialise yesterday, due to what were believed to be problems in obtaining a work permit for the Indian left-arm seamer.

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