RAMPRAKASH HITS TENTH HUNDRED AGAINST SUSSEX by Marcus Hook
Surrey 256-2 v Sussex.

Mark Ramprakash seems to enjoy batting against Sussex. Yesterday, at the Brit Oval, he scored his tenth championship hundred against the Martlets, his third on the trot against them, his third, now, in as many innings and, for those who are counting, the 102nd overall in first-class cricket. His chanceless 133 not out put his side in control of a contest Surrey really could do with winning if they are to avoid relegation. But, unfortunately, the day did not pass off without controversy.

Shortly after tea Ramprakash had to be pacified by umpire Rob Bailey after Murray Goodwin came up from point to speak to the Surrey captain about a rough patch outside the right-hander's off stump at the Vauxhall End. The exchange presumably contained the accusation that Ramprakash was deliberately scuffing up the pitch, because it was clear he took offence to what Goodwin had said and it took Bailey a few minutes to calm the situation down. In the next over Ramprakash went to his fifth hundred of the season, which he celebrated with an exaggerated twirl of the bat in Goodwin's direction and a few words of wisdom for good measure.

But the histrionics did not end there. When bad light ended play early, at 5.45pm, Ramprakash entered into a heated exchange with umpire John Steele - which appeared to be along the lines of the light not being bad enough to go off - and then a further bawling match with Goodwin as the players were making their way up the steps to return to their respective dressing rooms.

Off the pitch, the talk was all about Alan Butcher's future as Surrey manager, the merits of the home side welcoming Alex Tudor back into the fold and Chris Adams's future at Sussex, given reports linking him with the coach's position at Hampshire. To add to the intrigue surrounding Adams, the Sussex captain was conspicuous by his omission from the visitors' line-up, which was said to be down to a rib injury. Michael Yardy took his place at the toss, which was won by Surrey. As frustrating as the season has been for the Brown Caps, winning the toss has not been a problem - they have now won nine out of twelve in the championship.

On the pitch Ramprakash showed his class, yet again, by engineering his side's recovery from the early losses of Stewart Walters and Scott Newman. Walters went in the third over, when Jason Lewry angled one across the 25-year-old opener, who obligingly edged him at chest height to second slip. Newman departed in the eleventh, when Lewry found some extra bounce.

Ramprakash and Batty then put on an unbeaten 216 runs for the third wicket. The hundred stand took 42 overs to achieve due, partly, to Ollie Rayner's tight middle session spell of 17-4-32-0 from the Vauxhall End. But Ramprakash threw off the shackles in the 53rd over, when he followed up a straight six off Michael Thornely, with a four straight up the ground and a late cut to the third man boundary. That took the former Middlesex man to 80.

In the next over, Batty passed fifty for only the second time in eight innings. Following scores of 0, 0 and 8, the Surrey stumper could be forgiven perhaps for taking 149 balls over his half-century.

Having faced exactly 100 balls to reach his own fifty, Ramprakash's needed only 73 further deliveries to go to three figures. When he went to 113, Ramprakash set a new record for the most runs by a Surrey batsman without being dismissed in first-class cricket, beating Andy Ducat's record of 424 set in June 1921 when Ducat followed up his 290 not out against Essex at Leyton with 134 against Northamptonshire at the Oval.

A day that saw the best and the worst of Ramprakash ended with him opening a new bar at the Brit Oval named in his honour. Having survived chances on 42, 76 and 77, Batty, who has been awarded a benefit in 2009, will take 96 into this morning. If the injury to Corey Collymore's right knee has worsened overnight Sussex could be facing a long day in the field unless it rains.

GO TO:

BACK TO: