Brown runs riot

Ali Brown © Getty Images

Ali Brown smashed his 41st first-class century to lead Surrey to a four-wicket win over Somerset at Bath after they had been under pressure for much of the Liverpool Victoria County Championship Division Two game.

Set 353 to win, the visitors were 129 for four before Rikki Clarke (77) joined Brown in a stand of 189 which effectively secured victory with a day to spare after the extra half hour had been claimed.

Brown blasted 126 not out, reaching his hundred off 106 balls, with 19 fours.

Clarke, dropped on 43 with 145 still needed, was equally aggressive in hitting 16 boundaries.

For Somerset, it was a crushing defeat after they had led by 76 on first innings.

They were bowled out for 276 earlier in the day, with Cameron White making 108, Ian Salisbury taking four for 36 and Neil Saker four for 79.

Surrey took 19 points and the home side six.

The pitch had flattened out from the perils it presented on the first two days. Even so, Surrey still had it all to do at tea when they were 138 for four.

Charl Willoughby was again Somerset’s most threatening bowler. The South African left-arm seamer had Scott Newman caught by Wes Durston at third slip for 14 with the total on 23.

Richard Johnson chipped in with the wicket of Jon Batty, lbw for 27 to a ball that kept low, and it was 117 for three when Mark Butcher (19) miscued Willoughby to Matt Wood at mid-on.

Mark Ramprakash, unbeaten on 87 in the first innings, again looked in good form, reaching his second half-century of the match off 74 balls, with 10 fours.

But when Willoughby ran one across him and wicket-keeper Carl Gazzard took a good diving catch, Ramprakash departed for 51 and Somerset were on top.

A key moment came with the total on 208 for four as Clarke attempted to reverse sweep left-arm spinner Arul Suppiah and Peter Trego dropped a simple catch at deep cover.

From then on Surrey’s victory was never in doubt. Clarke reached 50 off 38 balls, with 11 fours, Brown followed off 60 deliveries, with nine boundaries.

Somerset’s bowling tailed off badly. Andy Caddick toiled away with no success and skipper Cameron White used seven other bowlers in a vain attempt to pull the game around.

By the time Clarke holed out to mid-off to give
off-spinner Wes Durston the first of two late wickets, there were only 35 runs needed.

James Benning fell cheaply, but Martin Bicknell and Brown saw Surrey home.

Brown, who looked in dangerous form in the first innings, confirmed that impression with a superb display. By the end he had faced 121 deliveries and hit a six and 23 fours.

Somerset resumed on 148 for three in the morning, looking to build a lead of 400.

White did his best to lead from the front, scoring his 108 off 114 balls and striking 19 fours.

But the Australian lacked support as Salisbury benefited from the good work of Saker, claiming four of the last six wickets to fall.