It was one of those days when more overs were delivered by fathers to sons on the outfield than between the main protagonists out in the middle, but when pride is a stake there is little love lost – especially between traditional rivals – even if the circumstances are equally as meaningless. This match may have become the first draw at Guildford since the full introduction of four-day cricket, but as with so many apparently extraneous contests it contained nuggets of intrigue as well as interest.

The fourth day will probably be remembered for three things – the Middlesex wicketkeeper David Nash missing out on a third championship hundred in three innings, the Surrey keeper Jonathan Batty being struck on helmet by successive balls from Ashley Noffke and, regrettably, an verbal exchange between Mark Ramprakash, once of Middlesex and now of Surrey, and his former team-mates as the players made their way off for tea, after which no further play was possible due to intensifying rain.

Having made an attractive 25, Batty was twice felled in the last over before lunch when he ducked into a couple of attempted bouncers. After receiving attention he negotiated the last two balls of the morning session, but walked off looking somewhat groggy. It was no surprise, therefore, when, after the interval, Ian Ward re-emerged from the pavilion accompanied by Mark Ramprakash.

The former Middlesex man needed 55 to reach a thousand first-class runs for the season. But Ramprakash’s wicket is still prized by his former team-mates, even on an inconsequential fourth day when a draw ultimately did no harm to either side’s standing in the Division One table.

Square of jaw and playing impeccably square of the wicket Mark Ramprakash moved to 28 before the arrival of light rain suggested it would be a good time to take tea. But just prior to the break Ramprakash was hit on the helmet by Ed Joyce. It was not clear, though, whether this was what sparked the quarrel, but it meant that proceedings ended on sour note.

Earlier in the day Graham Thorpe did not take the field due to a back spasm. His place in the slips cordon was occupied by Ward, who misjudged a sharp chance to dismiss Simon Cook off the bowling off Jimmy Ormond. However, Cook added just one more to his score before being trapped leg before by a ‘nipper backer’ from Martin Bicknell.

Nash was seven away from a deserved hundred when Chad Keegan strode to the crease. The Middlesex wicketkeeper, showing a higher regard for Keegan’s ability with the bat than either Ormond or Bicknell, was unfortunately stranded on 96 when, four overs later, Martin Bicknell clipped the top of the number eleven’s off stump.

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