A 199 run partnership between Mark Ramprakash and Mark Butcher helped Surrey into a great position as bad light and rain brought play to a premature close at the end of the first day’s play at Hove.

On a difficult wicket, Jonathan Batty and Scott Newman did a good job of getting Surrey through a tough first hour after their captain had won the toss and decided to bat. The ball moved around both through the air and off the pitch making runs difficult to come by.

Newman was the more fluent of the two openers but the fact that he only hit four boundaries in his innings of 38 was an indication that the ball was not coming on to the bat. The left-hander went, caught hooking, 15 minutes before lunch leaving Batty and Ramprakash to see their side through to the break on 93 for one.

After the break, Batty started to strike the ball nicely, but his promising innings was cut short as he edged behind, for 39, to a ball that moved away from him off the pitch. This however brought Butcher and Ramprakash together and they proceeded to battle away through the afternoon session.

Sussex’s captain, Chris Adams, dropped a regulation chance off Butcher when he was on just ten but this proved to be the only real chance as the pair knocked the ball around with ease. They took Surrey to tea on 232, with Ramprakash not out 75 and Butcher unbeaten on 43.

Upon resumption the Surrey batsmen stepped it up a gear and as such both raced past their respective milestones. Butcher was the first, knocking off the seven needed to go past fifty. Ramprakash was not far behind however, as he seized onto some bowling from Mushtaq Ahmed to score his 91st first-class century.

Shortly after, the light began to deteriorate and as such, with 17 overs remaining in the day, the Surrey players took the umpires’ offer of bad light. When rain began to fall, there was no option of more play in the day and so, Surrey closed in the great position of 311 for two, with Ramprakash and Butcher both unbeaten on 122 and 75 respectively.

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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