Ramprakash dominates for Surrey

Mark Ramprkash was again in superlative form for Surrey at the Brit Oval

Mark Ramprakash missed the chance of making successive double-centuries but Surrey enjoyed the best of the second day of their LV County Championship clash with Sussex at The Brit Oval.

The 38-year-old Surrey captain, who hit his 101st first-class century against Somerset at Taunton last week, resumed on 133 and progressed to 178 before being caught by Robin Martin-Jenkins off Ollie Rayner.

Wicketkeeper Jonathan Batty had earlier reached three figures before he was trapped lbw by West Indies paceman Corey Collymore for 102.

The rest of the Surrey batting line-up failed to fire after the pair departed as they slipped from 398 for five to 455 all out.

Chris Nash’s occasional off-spin saw him finish the pick of the Sussex attack with career-best figures of 4-1-7-3 while Rory Hamilton-Brown claimed 3-54.

Sussex reached 97 for three in their response as Jade Dernbach captured the wickets of Nash for seven and Michael Thornely for a duck.

Michael Yardy (37) steadied the ship with Murray Goodwin (49 not out) before the former was run out shortly before the close.

Elsewhere, Lancashire are in deep trouble in their clash against Kent at Canterbury after they were dismissed for 125 in response to Kent’s first-innings total of 283.

Robbie Joseph (5-34) and Martin Saggers (4-26) tore through the Lancashire batting order with only Glen Chapple’s defiant unbeaten 44 saving the Red Rose from further embarrassment.

Kent lost captain Rob Key after he edged Sajid Mahmood, but fellow opener Joe Denly (63 not out) and Neil Dexter (69no) gave Kent a lead of 303 as they closed on 145 for one.

Ian Blackwell struck an unbeaten century to give Somerset a lead of 69 at stumps on day three of their match against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.

Ian Blackwell struck a confident ton as Somerset forged a lead of 69 over Hampshire at the Rose Bowl

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Marcus Trescothick (65), James Hildreth (50), and Peter Trego (58) made half-centuries but it was Blackwell who helped Somerset overhaul Hampshire’s total of 316 and will resume with Alfonso Thomas (19no) in the morning.

In Division Two, Essex have a lead of 34 over Worcestershire at the close on the second day at Colchester to leave the match finally poised.

Replying to a total of 282, the visitors were bowled out for 258, with Ben Smith (74) and Gareth Batty (60) their main contributors.

Essex reached 10 without loss at the close and were left rueing a serious injury to Danish Kaneria, who broke his spinning finger and was taken to hospital.

Leicestershire’s Claude Henderson and Garnett Kruger claimed four wickets apiece as Middlesex were dismissed for 367 at Lord’s.

Leicestershire lost Matthew Boyce (63), Greg Smith (23) and Paul Nixon (37) as they reached 184 for three at the close.

Elsewhere, Oliver Newby returned career-best figures of 5-69 as Gloucestershire bowled out Northamptonshire for 349 on the third day of their match at Bristol.

David Sales progressed from 99 not out overnight to make 148 while South African pair Andrew Hall (58) and Johann Louw (46) both made valuable contributions.

Kadeer Ali is unbeaten on 63 as Gloucestershire overcame the loss of Will Porterfield (26) and Hamish Marshall (11) to close on 129 for two.