A Mark Butcher hundred has steered Surrey out of danger on day one of their match with Glamorgan at Swansea.

After winning the toss and deciding to bat, Surrey slumped to 98-6 but Butcher engineered a sterling comeback and at stumps the Brown Caps ended on 316-9.

It was the captain’s second Liverpool Victoria County Championship century of the season and it couldn’t
Mark Butcher have come at a better time. His 136 was a joy to watch and he hit 20 boundaries and one six in an innings which has ensured that Surrey now have something to bowl at when they take the field at some stage tomorrow morning.

The resurrection would not have been made possible had it not been for the handy work in the lower order, particularly from Martin Bicknell, who made a timely half century (59), in a 152 run stand with Butcher for the seventh wicket. The pair came together with the score at 98-6, but the stand was enough to put a large dent in the home side’s spirits and now Surrey come into tomorrow with their tails up.

Earlier in the day, David Harrison was instrumental in the Glamorgan charge, with the paceman removing Jonathan Batty, Mark Ramprakash, Ali Brown and Rikki Clarke all cheaply.

Ian Salisbury, Surrey’s leading Championship wicket taker so far this season also showed that he is a more than capable man with the bat in his hands too, seeing out the day, unbeaten on 31.

Surrey v Glamorgan match scorecard

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