Ramprakash stands in Sussex's way

Surrey's Mark Ramprakash shut out reigning champions Sussex with his second hundred against them this season, and the 102nd of his first-class career.

Ramprakash was an all too familiar stumbling block as Sussex’s search for the points they urgently need in defence of their LV County Championship Division One crown got nowhere fast on day one at the Brit Oval.

Ramprakash had already added another double-century since becoming only the 25th man in history to make 100 hundreds - against Yorkshire this month - and the Surrey batsman chiselled out another unbeaten 133 in a close-of-play total of 256 for two.

The former England batsman’s share was 18 fours and a six from 227 balls on his way to his third successive century, while fellow limpet Jon Batty contributed 96 to an unbroken stand of 216 - after Jason Lewry had briefly raised the visitors’ hopes with two early wickets against relegation-threatened opponents.

Dominic Cork continues to issue reminders of his effectiveness, the veteran former England seamer coming up with two Kent wickets at Canterbury a week after hearing Lancashire will not be requiring his services next summer.

But Kent recovered thanks to a determined 80 not out from ex-England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones, and by the close they were 241 for seven.

Surrey's Mark Ramprakash roars his delight after reaching three figures against Sussex

Michael Lumb completed an elusive first hundred for Hampshire, 107 out of a total of 316 all out at the Rose Bowl in a match against title-chasing Somerset which is already into day two.

The 28-year-old’s eight previous first-class hundreds all came before his switch south from Yorkshire for the start of last season, but Lumb made sure this time - taking 201 balls and hitting 15 fours on his way to three figures.

Charl Willoughby (3-86) helped to ensure full bonus points for Somerset, despite more handy runs from Sean Ervine (69) and Dimitri Mascarenhas (41).

By stumps, Somerset’s reply was worth 41 without loss.

It was also day two in the Division Two clash between bottom-of-the-table Gloucestershire and promotion-chasing Northamptonshire at Bristol - where, after yesterday’s washout and more rain this morning, David Sales bailed out the visitors with an unbeaten 99 out of 212 for five.

There was rain too on the first morning cross-country at Colchester, where Essex were hosting leaders Worcestershire.

After play began in early afternoon, home captain Mark Pettini (59) and wicketkeeper James Foster (55) shared a fourth-wicket stand of 124 as their team recovered from three for two.

Ryan ten Doeschate (87no) added a third half-century, and the upshot was a total of 269 for nine after seamers Kabir Ali (5-77) and Bradford-born Imran Arif (4-77) had shared the wickets.

England Test opener Andrew Strauss enjoyed himself back in Middlesex colours but was outdone by Ed Joyce (101) in the hosts’ 285 for six against Leicestershire at Lord’s.

Strauss and his fellow left-hander shared a second-wicket stand of 124, Joyce hitting 14 fours in all from 158 balls on a day when Garnett Kruger took 3-64 - and bad light eventually brought an early close.