Butcher batters Yorkshire

Mark Butcher hit an unbeaten century to put Surrey in control of their LV County Championship Division One match against Yorkshire as Mark Ramprakash missed another chance to score his 100th first-class hundred.

The Surrey captain finished the first day of the match undefeated on 189 as the hosts reached 396 for five at the Brit Oval.

Butcher completed his century from 161 balls - his 38th in first-class cricket - in the 62nd over with a superb cover drive.

But Ramprakash will have to wait to reach his personal milestone after he was dismissed by Yorkshire’s Oliver Hannon-Dalby who was making his first-class debut.

Surprised by the bounce from the teenager, Ramprakash played away from his body and edged to slip to give the 18-year-old his first wicket in county cricket.

An unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 203 between Butcher and Matt Nicholson helped Surrey press their advantage after Yorkshire had snapped up three quick wickets during the afternoon.

Surrey picked up four batting points with Nicholson (103 not out), who completed his century in the final over of the day from 119 balls, set to continue with Butcher on day two.

Kent seamers Ryan McLaren and Robbie Joseph tore threw Somerset’s batting line-up to give themselves the advantage at Tunbridge Wells.

Six Somerset players got into the twenties but only Peter Trego (49) was able to make a significant contribution as McLaren (5-31) and Joseph (4-67) struck to bowl out the visitors for 208.

Kent lost Joe Denly for nought after he was bowled by Charl Willoughby before James Tredwell was lbw to Trego to leave Kent in trouble at 31 for two.

Captain Rob Key hit a patient 48 but was Trego’s second victim after he was trapped lbw. Martin van Jaarsveld (21no) and Martin Saggers (nought) will resume on 85 for three.

Corey Collymore finished with 4-47 as Sussex opened up 96-run advantage over Nottinghamshire at stumps on the second day of their match at Trent Bridge.

Collymore helped dismiss the home side for 251 despite the efforts of Mark Wagh (54) and Adam Voges (53) who both hit half centuries.

The defending champions lost openers Chris Nash (nine) and Carl Hopkinson (21) in their second innings with Michael Yardy (31no) Murray Goodwin (seven no) set to resume on 70 for two.

In Division Two, Essex reached 134 for eight at the close in a low-scoring first day against Leicestershire at Chelmsford.

The visitors were bowled out for 159 with only Paul Nixon (57) showing resistance as David Masters took 6-24 for Essex.

But Nadeem Malik then snaffled 5-33 to leave the hosts struggling with James Middlebrook (36no) their best hope of getting a first-innings lead when he resumes with Tony Palladino (eight no) in the morning.

Elsewhere, David Sales (173) cracked the fastest century of the season as Northamptonshire enjoyed a profitable first day against Glamorgan at Swansea to reach 453 for six at stumps.

Sales, who was also joined on three figures by Niall O’Brien (108), brought up his quickfire 100 from only 76 balls with three sixes and 15 fours.

Darren Maddy (4-25) helped Warwickshire restrict Middlesex to 285 for nine on a pedestrian first day at Edgbaston.

Middlesex captain Ed Smith (85) and Ed Joyce (60) were the only players to really trouble the scorers at the top of the order before the visitors suffered a middle-order collapse.

Veteran Shaun Udal struck an unbeaten run-a-ball 40 to provide late impetus and will continue with Danny Evans who is unbeaten on nought.