Cricket365

Ramps Gets Another Ton

Thursday 21st August 2008

Mark Ramprakash continued his recent good form with another century after the first day of Surrey's LV County Championship Division One match with Sussex at the Brit Oval.

It was his third century in successive innings from the former England batsman as bottom of the table Surrey ended the day in the driving seat on 256 for two.

Ramprakash ended the day on unbeaten on 133 with Jonathan Batty who is 96 not out at stump.

However, Ramprakash could find himself in trouble with the authorities after a spat with Sussex's Murray Goodwin just before he reached his century, with what looked like a disagreement on running down the wicket and ended with the Surrey skipper having to be restrained by the umpires to avoid further confrontation.

The Surrey pair shared an unbroken third-wicket partnership of 216 after Surrey had earlier been reduced to 40-2 following a superb opening spell from Sussex bowler Jason Lewry.

After deciding to bat in overcast conditions Surrey lost wicket of Stewart Walters for a duck in the third over of the morning when he drove loosely at Lewry, found the outside edge and the ball flew to Ollie Rayner at slip.

After a short delay for rain, Lewry claimed his second wicket when he surprised Scott Newman (18) with some swing and bounce, again finding the edge and giving a simple catch to Andrew Hodd behind the stumps.

Lewry was soon taken out of the attack after bowling eight overs and conceding just 21 runs and despite coming back just before lunch the left-arm bowler never had quite the same rhythm as Ramprakash and Batty steadied the ship.

Without the injured Chris Adams, who failed a fitness test before the start on his injured ribs, Sussex were led by Michael Yardy who despite rotating his bowling attack could not capitalise on the early breakthrough as the Surrey pair shared their century partnership in 42 overs.

Batty celebrated the announcement of his benefit in 2009, with his fifty coming in the 54th over from 149 balls with another glorious drive through the covers.

Meanwhile, Ramprakash continued to pile on the runs, advancing into the nineties with successive boundaries off the Michael Thornely.

And despite his argument he went on to complete his century in the 68th over from 168 balls which included 13 fours and a six.

It is the Surrey captain's third successive century against Sussex and also his tenth in his career against the team from the south coast.