THORPE IN A CLASS OF HIS OWN by Marcus Hook
Surrey 401-8 v Sussex.

Summer finally arrived at the AMP Oval yesterday and to celebrate Graham Thorpe struck his second hundred in three days. The former England left-hander shared in two century partnerships plus a third, with Hollioake, worth 96 before mistiming a cut and being caught at backward point ten overs from the end. Thorpe saw his side past a sticky start to finish with 156 off 274 balls, stretching over more than five hours.

The 33-year-old is back and if the England selectors choose to pass him over, as they continue to do with Hollioake, Ramprakash and Ormond it is difficult seeing anyone standing in the way of Surrey’s fourth championship title in five years.

For once Adam Hollioake won the toss and had no hesitation in batting. But surprisingly, given the sultry conditions and a straw-coloured pitch, Sussex had the better of the opening session, particularly in the first hour in which the Surrey openers managed just three boundaries.

Two wickets fell in eight balls when James Kirtley found the edge of Ian Ward’s defensive bat and Jonathan Batty poked at one from Billy Taylor that was far too close to his body to be cutting to also fall to a catch at second slip. But the visitors’ luck began to change when Taylor had to come off after seventy minutes with a pulled left thigh muscle.

Graham Thorpe immediately struck two leg-side fours off what remained of the sixteenth over, which was bowled by Robin Martin-Jenkins. With his fourth boundary, again off Martin-Jenkins - a drive straight back past the bowler - Thorpe passed a thousand runs against Sussex.

Ramprakash took 28 balls getting off the mark, but went on to add 110 in thirty-six overs with the man of the day, Graham Thorpe. While the former Middlesex man looked at times to be at a loss for ideas, Thorpe moved serenely up through the gears and unlike the two stands that followed was patently the dominant partner.

Mark Ramprakash had quickened by the end, but trying to work Mushtaq to leg was caught at extra cover off a leading edge. Either side of Ramprakash’s wicket, Robin Martin-Jenkins conceded seven boundaries in four overs.

Brown, who also got after Mushtaq and Innes, raced to his half-century in 46 deliveries with shots through the off-side and straight, which was precisely where he hit his only six, off Kevin Innes, bringing up the 200 in the process.

But Graham Thorpe was in a class of his own. Pushing Mushtaq Ahmed for a quick single in the 62nd over, he reached his 30th first-class hundred for Surrey. It had taken him 204 minutes, 156 balls and included 18 fours.

Brown and Thorpe had added 131 in 25 overs when Alistair Brown was dropped at slip. He was out to the very next ball, however, caught at backward point for 74.

Surrey adjourned for tea having put on 184 in the afternoon session.

Adam Hollioake hit the second ball back straight down the ground for four and repeated the stroke moments later. Martin-Jenkins, who conceded 72 from his 19.4 overs, was then given equally short shrift. That led to the ball being thrown yet again to Mushtaq, who was dropped over wide mid-on by Hollioake in the 82nd over.

Eight overs later Thorpe departed, to be closely followed by Azhar Mahmood whose checked drive flew to Adams at second slip to give Kirtley his third success.

Sussex took the new ball after 98 overs and picked up the wickets of Martin Bicknell, who was aiming to cut when he edged the ball on to his stumps, and Adam Hollioake, lbw for 77 off 78 balls, both to the bowling of Robin Martin-Jenkins.

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