The final day of this curtain raiser to the 2005 season showcased three century partnerships, all of them involving Surrey’s Mark Ramprakash, who, for the most part, played second fiddle, yet finished with the ninth 150-plus innings of his brief first-class career for the Ovalites. It also earned the South London outfit what, in days of old, used to be called a winning draw against the team that wrestled the championship title away from them back in 2003.

The loss of more than 180 overs on the first three days at The Oval effectively made day four a glorified net. However, there was still the matter of pride to play for not to mention bonus points – the pursuit of which, refreshingly, both sides took very seriously indeed, spurred on perhaps by events at Edgbaston and, later, at the Rose Bowl.

Although it was far from clear to begin with, the hosts’ objective was to cancel out if not beat the four batting points Sussex had picked up in their first innings. Despite some searching bowling from James Kirtley, backed up by some keen fielding on the part of visitors, Surrey succeeded in their quest by maintaining a run rate of four an over to add 369 to the overnight total.

Their 402 for five was set up by Ramprakash and Thorpe’s business-like 116-run stand in 36 overs, which came after Richard Clinton had departed in the fourth over of the day, wafting at a ball from Jason Lewry.

Graham Thorpe’s contribution to the third wicket alliance was an attractive 59 off 112 balls. On the basis that the England left-hander averaged 78.60 against Sussex prior to the game, one could be churlish and suggest that he was below par. But the way Thorpe took Robin Martin-Jenkins apart in the 34th over augured well for the next three championship matches; after which his thoughts will no doubt turn to the Test series against Bangladesh and a likely 100th Test cap when the show reaches the Riverside.

Bangladesh will be spared having to bowl to the unswerving Mark Ramprakash, who did not play a captain’s innings yesterday as much as one that confirmed his hunger for making runs is still unsatisfied, even though he is unlikely to ever again grace the international stage.

Thorpe became Mushtaq Ahmed’s 1,100th victim in first-class cricket when, in the ninth over after lunch, his attempted sweep ended up at silly point via the front pad. That brought in Jonathan Batty, who was celebrating his 100th first-class appearance for Surrey. The Ovalites’ ex-skipper put together a composed 70 in 94 deliveries.

Batty reached his fifty, off 72 balls, in the last over before tea and Ramprakash brought up the 74th first-class hundred of his astonishing career – and his seventh against Sussex – by cutting the first ball after the interval, from Michael Yardy, to the point boundary. The landmark had taken the former Middlesex man 227 balls, and included 12 fours plus a straight six off Mushtaq, who, in 28.2 overs, was unable to coax any assistance out of the flat Oval pitch.

Batty struck a straight six of his own, off Yardy. But when the 24-year-old all-rounder threw up another one, but wider, Surrey’s wicketkeeper-batsman was taken by the lone slip, Richard Montgomerie, off the toe of his bat.

The fourth wicket partnership of 122 in 28 overs gave way to Ramprakash and Brown’s fifth wicket stand of 113 in nineteen overs. Alistair Brown, who took Surrey ahead on points by flicking Martin-Jenkins to long leg four to bring up the 300, marked his 200th first-class appearance with a typically rumbustious 74 not out off 72 balls.

Brown struck the ball so sweetly Ian Ward had leave the field in the 96th over with an injury to his ring finger, plus Mushtaq and Lewry were lifted into the stands in the 104th and 105th overs. Mushtaq disappeared over cover, Lewry over mid-wicket.

Two overs later Ramprakash flicked the left-arm seamer to the backward square leg boundary to post his 150 in 280 deliveries, but the very next ball Lewry beat his tormentor’s weary prod to leg to claim his second wicket of the innings.

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