A magnificent century from Mark Ramprakash helped to set up victory for the Brown Caps as 281 from their 50 overs proved too many for the Sussex Sharks to chase under lights at Hove.

James Benning set the scene for Surrey’s innings as he bludgeoned the first ball to the boundary, however the side suffered an early loss as Ali Brown was bowled in the third over of the day.

Benning proceeded to play in his typical fashion whilst Ramprakash knocked the ball around to continue on from where he left off last week. The ball flew to the boundary with regularity but not always in the most conventional areas. Surrey’s opening blaster Benning then went in a similar fashion to Brown, as Kirtley got one to move back through the gate, to bowl him for 26.

This brought the captain Mark Butcher to the crease and together he and Ramprakash, after a difficult early period, started to tick the run rate over. At the half way stage, Surrey had got their side up to 130, however a promising partnership was cut short as Butcher top edged a sweep to be caught for 39.

Meanwhile Ramprakash had gone past his half century and was seizing on anything slightly loose punishing it to the short leg side boundary. He dominated the next two partnerships but found good support in both Jonathan Batty and Azhar Mahmood as Surrey went past 200.

The Surrey number three went past three figures and in doing so changed gear again to smear a further 42 runs from only 19 deliveries to take Surrey up to the competitive total of 281 from their 50 overs.

In reply, some good opening bowling from Matthew Nicholson and Azhar Mahmood squeezed the start of Sussex’s innings. Although the opening stand was worth 41 when the first wicket came, Surrey had managed to contain the home team, stopping them from utilising the fielding restrictions.

This trend continued, and when Benning sprung to his right at cover, to take the most incredible one handed catch to remove Chris Adams for seven, Surrey seemed to be in the box seat.

However, a positive stand between Chris Nash and Murray Goodwin began to swing the match, taking the Sussex total from 75 up to 170. It was at this point that the home side were scoring with ease and even when Nash was caught for 52, Goodwin continued to push the rate along.

With the fall of the wicket, Carl Hopkinson joined Goodwin and immediately made an impact by smashing two boundaries to release the pressure. He was the minority scorer in the partnership however, as Goodwin accelerated in a similar fashion to Ramprakash in Surrey’s innings. Nevertheless, when Hopkinson went, the new batsmen starved Goodwin of the strike and although they struck the odd boundary, this proved to be the side’s downfall.

A couple of good catches off Schofield put more pressure on Sussex’s in form batsman, who finally succumbed, caught in the deep for 86, when Azhar Mahmood returned from the sea end. This loss meant that Surrey eventually cruised to victory by 16 runs with Schofield bowling very well at the death, to claim four wickets.

To view the scorecard from this match, click here.

Highlights from today’s match can be see on Surrey’s brand new service Surrey TV, available from www.surreycricket.tv or by clicking here.

For any Surrey supporters wishing to travel to Cresselly for the Friends Provident Glamorgan match on 28 May, they are strongly advised to contact the Glamorgan County Cricket Club ticket office on 0871 282 3400 to buy their tickets. The Club have reported that there are limited tickets available. Ticket prices are £15 for adults and £8 for Under 16's.

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