An as yet unbroken third wicket partnership of 199 in 45 overs between Mark Ramprakash and Mark Butcher put Surrey firmly in control on the opening day against Sussex at Hove. When rain and bad light brought an early end to proceedings, Ramprakash had an unbeaten 122 from 159 balls, while the Brown Caps' skipper, with 75 off 140 and nine fours, was well on course for a century of his own. The hosts' only crumb of comfort was the loss of twenty overs, which, coupled with today's weather forecast, could ultimately prove to be their saviour.

Still, on the evidence of day one, Sussex will do well to polish of the visitors for less than 450, which, given that the Martlets batting has let them down badly this season might even be enough for Surrey to pull off an innings victory.

Not for the first time against Sussex, centre stage belonged to Ramprakash. But curiously this, his fourth championship hundred of the summer and his eighth against the seasiders, was only the second he has reached three figures at Hove. The former Middlesex man brought up his century with the first of two successive cover drives for four off Mushtaq Ahmed. It is the 91st first-class hundred of his career and it took him just 134 balls. In addition, when he reached 83 yesterday he also recorded 2,000 first-class runs against Sussex.

Ramprakash announced himself by picking Mushtaq up for a straight six, but he should have been run out shortly afterwards, on 12, but Chris Nash's throw from mid-off bounced over the top of the stumps. The 37-year-old reached fifty in 70 deliveries, when he cut Kirtley wide of gully, but was given another reprieve, on 75, when Andrew Hodd, in the Sussex side due to Matt Prior's call-up for the first Test, floored a chance off Luke Wright.

Butcher was also given a life, on 10, when Chris Adams put down a routine, if sharp catch at second slip off Robin Martin-Jenkins. Butcher's stand with Ramprakash was worth only 39 at the time. After tea the two former England batsmen stepped up a gear and the stand reached three figures in 22 overs, whereupon Ramprakash despatched Mushtaq effortlessly through mid-wicket for four. Butcher got in on the act by hitting the leg-spinner to the extra cover boundary with free flowing arms.

Earlier in the day, Surrey, who won the toss, brought in Richard Clinton and Ian Salisbury for James Benning and Chris Schofield. For Sussex, the only change other than Hodd for Prior behind the sticks was all-rounder Luke Wright replacing Jason Lewry.

Scott Newman and Jonathan Batty made a solid if cautious start. The first two overs of the game were both maidens and after ten overs the visitors had mustered just twenty runs off the bat.

Newman, who looked more at home, made 38 in an opening stand of 83 in 29 overs before lofting a pull to deep backward square leg in a manner that was worryingly reminiscent of his first innings dismissal at Old Trafford a fortnight ago.

Six overs after lunch Batty fell to a good catch, low down at gully, by James Kirtley off the bowling of Rana Naved-ul-Hasan. His innings of 39 had taken him 152 minutes, it came off 133 balls and included just five boundaries.

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