Surrey move to the top of the National League

Surrey defeated Glamorgan by 58 runs at Whitgift School to move to the top of Division One of the National League.

The home team were indebted to a graceful 101 from Mark Ramprakash and a violent 41 by captain Adam Hollioake from just 16 balls as they compiled a formidable 298-5, with no less than 63 runs coming in the last 5 overs. A stand of 120 in 19 overs between Ramprakash and Graham Thorpe, who hit an unbeaten 77, laid the foundations for Surrey`s impressive total, and as a result of their efforts, there were already 213 runs on the scoreboard when Hollioake arrived at the crease.

Ramprakash, who hit a double-century on this ground in the Championship, proved his liking for the school ground with a 91 ball century, striking 11 fours and three huge sixes - one of which cleared the row of houses in the adjacent Nottingham Road. Remarkably, it was Jimmy Maher who proved to be Glamorgan`s most successful bowler, as Robert Croft turned to the Australian`s medium pace after the spin of Croft and Dean Cosker had been struck for 54 in 7 overs. Maher dismissed Ramprakash, Hollioake and Azhar Mahmood in his three overs, but it still meant that Glamorgan needed to score at 6.6 an over.

After Maher had departed in the third over, Robert Croft and Michael Powell launched some powerful drives before Croft was caught behind off Jimmy Ormond. Matthew Maynard came in to play some sublime strokes and in the space of 12 overs he added 87 with Powell before the latter was bowled by Saqlain Mushtaq for 61.

Glamorgan suffered another blow when Maynard on 37 had a severe bout of cramp in his calf. Fortunately, he was able to continue batting with a runner, but after adding only a further four runs he was caught and bowled by Ormond.

David Hemp then added a further 30 runs with Adrian Dale, but both were dismissed in successive overs, as Surrey tightened the screw. Despite some lusty blows by the lower order, the task of scoring at nine an over proved too much, and Surrey won with 32 balls in hand to move four points clear of Gloucestershire at the top of the table.