Yesterday, not for the first time this season, Mark Ramprakash ploughed a lone furrow in an effort to keep Surrey both in this match and safe from relegation to the County Championship’s basement division. Those south of the River Thames who have been spoilt by success cannot comprehend the latter, least of all the former Middlesex man who, in one of his first interviews as an Ovalite, remarked that performances in Division Two should not possess first-class status.

Ramprakash’s unbeaten 138 made from 218 balls and including 19 fours, one five and a six, takes his tally of three-figure first-class scores to sixty-nine. It is also represents his fifth championship hundred against Warwickshire and his first to be scored within the tree-lined surroundings of Guildford’s Woodbridge Road.

But for his unwavering resistance, the home side would now be facing certain defeat. As it is, if they could make a better fist of things in their second dig today – the possibility of them avoiding the follow-on is totally remote – the fast-scoring nature of this pocket-sized venue could see Warwickshire put under rare pressure. The restless locals will certainly be hoping so.

Resuming at 390 for five, the visitors certainly made good use of the fast outfield in adding a further 147 in less than 27 overs to their total, which broke the venue record of 528-9 set by Surrey against Nottinghamshire nine years ago. Dougie Brown made 106 off 145 balls on the scene of his debut back in 1994, since when he has now made six first-class centuries. For good measure Brad Hogg threw in a highly entertaining 67 in 41 deliveries, just to browbeat the hosts still further. In reply, the home side finished the second day on 307 for nine – not bad by most standards, but more than eighty runs short of saving the follow-on.

Their response got off to the worst possible start when Scott Newman, driving at Dewald Pretorius, was adjudged to have edged behind in the third over. His seventh opening partner this season, Rikki Clarke, like so many of his contemporaries yesterday, looked in good nick until he got out. To be fair it took a good delivery to remove the 22-year-old – one that nipped back sharply and plucked out the leg stump via an inside edge.

Either side of Jonathan Batty’s brief visit to the crease, Alistair Brown and Adam Hollioake played delightful cameos, but the situation demanded more. Brown was caught behind in the 26th over, as was Batty three overs later, then, on the stroke of tea, Hollioake, having just seen Ramprakash pick Hogg up over mid-wicket for six, attempted a similar shot and paid for it. At least the former Surrey captain had contributed to the best stand of the innings – 72 in fourteen overs.

The theme continued after the break when Azhar Mahmood made a breezy 25, but with Tim Murtagh driving Naqaash Tahir into Mark Wagh’s midriff at second slip in the very next over the tail was exposed. However, as he showed when making a career best 57 at Bristol, Jimmy Ormond is offended when opponents expect him to simply lay down and die.

The former Leicestershire man rode his luck a little, but was ultra positive on his way to becoming Surrey’s third top-scorer. But any hopes the home side had of saving the follow-on went when Ormond, driving, was snapped up at first slip and Phil Sampson became Tahir’s third first-over victim of the match.

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