Ramprakash and Brown join forces

A second-wicket partnership of 158 between Mark Ramprakash and Michael Brown kept Surrey in with a chance of a second successive LV= County Championship victory on a rain-interrupted day against Leicestershire at Grace Road.

Only 36 overs were possible because of the weather, during which time Surrey scored 96 runs to reach 217 for two, giving them a lead of 52.

Leicestershire's only success of the second day came with the second new ball, when Harry Gurney had Ramprakash caught behind for 85.

At the end of the next over the players came off for bad light with nearly an hour to go. No further play was possible.

Surrey began the day on 121 for one and Brown – 46 overnight – quickly reached his half-century with a four off Gurney., his fifth boundary off 155 balls.

Mark Ramprakash, who made 85, was the only wicket to fall on a rain-interrupted day in the Second Division encounter

But the Leicestershire attack bowled accurately and with good discipline and contained Surrey on an easy-paced pitch.

By his own high standards, Ramprakash was below his fluent best and had an escape on 41 when an edge off AJ Harris flew just wide of first slip.

Ramprakash celebrated his let-off by reaching his fifty off 117 balls and containing only three fours.

But 45 minutes before lunch, with the score on 179 for one, the rain began to fall and continued throughout the afternoon.

The delay lasted four and a half hours and, when play finally resumed, Ramprakash was quickly into his stride with three boundaries off seamer James Allenby.

The first came with a pull through midwicket, the next a cover drive and the third a fortunate edge through the slips, brought up 200 to give Surrey their first batting bonus point.

Then Brown, on 75, enjoyed an escape when HD Ackerman failed to hold on to a sharp catch at slip as he cut left-arm spinner Claude Henderson.

The home side took the new ball in the 83rd over and it brought quick dividends as Gurney found the edge against Ramprakash. Wicketkeeper Tom New claimed a comfortable catch to end the partnership of 158 in 63 overs.

But, after the final ball of the 85th over, the umpires offered the light and the teams came off, leaving Brown unbeaten on 82.