Ramprakash makes indelible mark

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Pulling power: Mark Ramprakash punishes Matthew Hoggard for dropping short in his magnificent unbeaten 179 at Grace Road

Mark Ramprakash scored the 113th first-class century of his career as he steered Surrey into a commanding position after they had been put into bat on a lively Grace Road pitch.

It looked a good decision by Leicestershire captain Matthew Hoggard when he snapped up two early wickets to leave Surrey struggling on 11 for two in the LV= County Championship Division Two clash.

But 40-year-old Ramprakash and Northern Ireland-born Gary Wilson shared a magnificent unbroken fourth-wicket stand off 217 to carry Surrey to an imposing 353 for four by the close of the first day.

Ramprakash was still there on 179 while Wilson had reached a career-best 94, within sight of a maiden first-class century.

It was former England batsman Ramprakash’s fifth ton of the season and he was again in supreme form as he spearheaded the Surrey revival after they had been in early trouble on a pitch freshened up by all the recent rain.

There was certainly plenty of help for the bowlers during the first hour or so and Surrey openers Arun Harinath and Tom Lancefield were given a torrid time by Hoggard and Nathan Buck.

Hoggard finally made the breakthrough by trapping both batsmen lbw in his fourth over.

Buck also bowled beautifully without any reward and even Ramprakash played and missed on several occasions as the ball swung, seamed and lifted.

But the Surrey veteran survived the early onslaught and then began to punish anything loose or off line with elegant ease, striking a glorious straight six off Nadeem Malik.

Surrey skipper Rory Hamilton-Brown also cut loose, hitting eight fours in his innings of 36 before being brilliantly caught by James Taylor at short-leg off left-arm spinner Claude Henderson.

There was no stopping Ramprakash, however. He dominated a fourth-wicket partnership of 70 with Steven Davies, who contributed only 19.

It was Davies who provided Henderson, with his second wicket when he edged a drive to slip.

That put Leicestershire back into the game but Surrey soon regained the initiative as Wilson and Ramprakash joined forces in a magnificent partnership.

Both produced an array of sweetly timed shots and Ramprakash went to his century off 160 balls with 14 fours plus the six.

It was his seventh against Leicestershire, four of them coming for Surrey and three during his time with Middlesex.

He was dropped on 115 by Greg Smith at gully as Wilson, growing in confidence, moved to his half-century off 120 balls.

Even the new ball, taken at 293 for four, brought Leicestershire no joy.