Surrey still searching for win

2 June 2007

Mark Ramprakash's hundred could not save Surrey's blushes

Kent cruised to a comfortable victory over Surrey at Whitgift School despite a valiant unbeaten century from Mark Ramprakash.

The hosts were dismissed for 319 as Kent won by an innings and 79 runs. The result left Surrey still searching for their first win of the LV County Championship season since their promotion to the First Division.

Ramprakash was again in superb form scoring a superb 108 from 239 balls, his 92nd first-class century, before he was the last man out caught on the mid-wicket boundary.

Together with Ali Brown the pair shared a stand of 129 in 37 overs before Brown was dismissed in the 63rd over.

At Edgbaston, Warwickshire and Hampshire settled for a draw in a match which had failed to overcome poor weather.

However, with the visitors 119 for four at lunch, only 26 ahead, hopes remained that the Bears could take the remaining wickets and knock off the required runs for victory.

Nic Pothas (126no) proved resilient, however, frustrating the home attack to reach 312 for seven when it was decided honours would be shared. Naqqash Tahir led the home attack with three for 33.

Muttiah Muralitharan gave Sussex a scare with 4-25

The dogged resistance of Sussex openers Chris Nash (35) and Richard Montgomerie (50) secured a draw against Lancashire at Hove.

Steven Croft earlier completed his maiden first-class 50 as Lancashire sought to set Sussex a target on the final day. He made 65 before Mark Chilton declared on 206 for eight.

Set a target of 302, Sussex managed 145 for five before stumps as Muttiah Muralitharan took four for 25.

Middlesex moved up to second place in Division Two after wrapping up a seven-wicket win over Somerset at Lord's.

The hosts, needing another 66 to win on the final day, made short work of their total finishing on 138 for three with nearly 83 overs to spare.

Ed Joyce made 45, including eight fours, and Owais Shah 28 as Middlesex recorded their third win of the campaign and maintained their unbeaten record in the championship.

England one-day batsman Ravi Bopara heaped more misery on bottom side Glamorgan as his unbeaten 147 steered Essex to victory by four wickets at Swansea.

Glamorgan declared on 174 for five and then took the early scalp of teenage opener Varun Chopra, for a duck off James Harris, as they pursued victory.

However, 73 from Mark Pettini and Bopara's own brilliance with the bat helped see them home to a narrow victory as they reached their target of 323.

Nottinghamshire came up 14 runs short in their bid to secure a win against Leicestershire at Oakham School as the match ended in a draw.

Leicestershire added 13 runs this morning before declaring on 114 for three and unleashing their attack on Nottinghamshire in a bid for victory at Oakham School Ground.

Chasing 377 to win, Notts openers Jason Gallian (60) and Bilal Shafayat (45) made a steady start in response.

Nick Walker (4-70) was doing his best to upset the visitors' rhythm and despite 79 from David Hussey they just failed to claim victory, finishing up on 363 for eight after 91 overs.

Northamptonshire endured a difficult afternoon in Gloucester, and were 142 for seven in response to Gloucestershire's first-innings tally of 394 on day two at Archdeacon Meadow.

Lance Klusener was doing his best to steer Northants to a respectable total with 49, while Monty Panesar was unbeaten on 17 at stumps. Vikram Banerjee led the hosts' attack with three for 31.