Brown blasts Leicestershire

Alistair Brown hammered a magnificent 211 n.o. in Surrey's 334-8 score against Leicestershire in their championship match at Oakham School - the first time the championship had come there in 62 years. He showed that the pitch was well-suited to batting in spite of the visitors having lost three early wickets to James Ormond at 25-3.

Brown attained his double-hundred off 257 deliveries with 24 fours and one six to put Surrey in a formidable position. He outpaced his colleagues as the next-highest scorer was Nadeem Shahid (37) and Alex Tudor (22) was a junior partner in the 141 runs eighth-wicket stand in 37 overs. Although he was missed a couple of times Brown prospered as the pitch improved with the greater sunshine.

The morning had been different as it seemed that Ormond's speed and bounce would win the match for Leicestershire. His victims were Mark Butcher, Ian Ward and Adam Hollioake in the course of seven overs for nine runs. Then came Brown supported by Shahid to turn the tables by putting on the next 88 runs in 27 overs. Then from the second ball after lunch Shahid touched a ball from Phil DeFreitas outside the off-stump to wicketkeeper Burns. The same bowler had Ben Hollioake caught at mid-wicket by Aftab Habib (125-5). Jon Batty put on over fifty with Brown but the score at 190-7 was not yet comfortable as Martin Bicknell followed Batty back to the pavilion. Then Brown and, to a lesser extent, Tudor put bat to ball: the latter was caught by Maddy off Wells just before the close.

ECB chairman Lord McLaurin, who was present, complimented the Oakham ground staff: "This is as good a pitch as I have seen in this country all season."