Surrey take lead as Ramprakash hits debut century

Following the pattern of high scoring on this fine batting strip throughout the first three days of the match, Surrey posted 473 before being dismissed in the last over of the day, having taken a first innings lead of 17.

Facing Kent's substantial first innings total of 456 for eight, Surrey always looked well on course to match it with all of their main batsmen making solid contributions. While Ian Ward, Alistair Brown and Jonathan Batty made half-centuries, the Hollioake brothers narrowly missed theirs and Mark Ramprakash played a memorable innings on his debut for his new county, reaching his hundred shortly before lunch.

It was the belligerent batting of Brown that enabled his side to pile on the runs during the middle session of play taking their total to 374 for five at tea.

Along with Ramprakash, who featured in three fine partnerships during the first half of the day, Brown added 91 for the fifth wicket before mistiming an intended straight drive off Min Patel - who eventually finished with four wickets - to be caught at deep extra cover. While Ramprakash played elegant shots, his partner produced forceful strokes on either side of the wicket.

Brown reached 50 with his third consecutive boundary off Patel. The first was a straight drive, the second, a square cut and then a flick to mid-wicket. He needed only 54 balls for the half-century and, remarkably, all but six of those runs came from boundaries.

Kent claimed two wickets in each of the first two sessions, Ward and Hollioake Senior in the morning and then Ramprakash after an excellent innings was the first to go, after lunch, bowled by slow left-arm spinner Patel as he attempted to repeat his previous stroke which had brought him a six over mid-wicket and had taken him to 146.

His wicket went on 331 and the fifth fell 23 runs later with Brown out for 72. Surrey's last five wickets fell for 99 in the final session with Batty the last to go having seen Surrey into the lead.