August 04, 2008	Monday	Sha'aban 1 429

LONDON, Aug 3: Former England Test batsman Mark Ramprakash became the first player in a decade to reach 100 first-class hundreds when he hit his third century of the season during Surrey’s county championship match against Yorkshire at Leeds on Saturday.

The 38-year-old is the 25th player to achieve the feat and the first since another former England batsman, Graeme Hick, in 1998.

Ramprakash started the season with 97 centuries but had been stuck on 99 since April 30, having begun the campaign with hundreds against Lancashire and Sussex.

Coincidentally he also registered the first century of his career at the same Headingley ground in July 1989.

“When I started out I never dreamed about making that many hundreds but I’ll certainly take it now,” Ramprakash was quoted as saying by the BBC.

“I feel honoured to join such a high calibre of names who have also achieved the feat. It’s definitely something I’ll cherish for the rest of my days.”

Ramprakash started his playing days with Middlesex in 1987 and is regarded as one of the finest batsmen of his generation.

However, he struggled to realise that potential during his 52 appearances for England. He averaged 27.32 in a Test career spanning 11 years from 1991.

Ramprakash left Middlesex for Surrey in 2001 and has scored prolifically in recent seasons, passing the 2,000-run mark in 2006 and 2007.

The only other players in the last 20 years to reach the milestone of 100 first-class hundreds are West Indian great Viv Richards and former England opener Graham Gooch.

Saturday’s scores:

County Championship (final day of four):

Division One:

At Canterbury: Kent (11pts) drew with Hampshire (11pts).

Hampshire 367 (M.A. Carberry 92, N. Pothas 73 not out, M.J. Lumb 73; Yasir Arafat 6-86) and 311-7 declared (N. Pothas 105 not out, S.M. Ervine 66, C.T. Tremlett 56); Kent 369 (J.L. Denly 89, Azhar Mahmood 73, R.W.T Key 67; Imran Tahir 5-96, J.D. Tomlinson 4-64).

At Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire (9pts) drew with Durham (9pts).

Durham 266 (W.R. Smith 85, C.E. Shreck 4-69) and 257-8 declared (M.J. Di Venuto 64, S. Chanderpaul 53; S.C.J. Broad 4-39); Nottinghamshire 268 (B.M. Shafayat 100).

At Horsham: Sussex (12pts) drew with Somerset (10pts).

Sussex 419 (M.W. Goodwin 137, M.H. Yardy 68, C.J. Adams 61) and 264-5 declared M.J. Prior 73, M.H. Yardy 68); Somerset 348 (M.E. Trescothick 92, Z. de Bruyn 77, J.C. Hildreth 61) and 128-2 (J.L. Langer 50).

At Headingley: Yorkshire (12pts) drew with Surrey (8pts).

Surrey 204 (G.J. Kruis 5-47) and 264-3 (S.A. Newman 129, M.R. Ramprakash 112 not out); Yorkshire 414-9 declared (A.U. Rashid 67 not out, J.A. Rudolph 64, A.W. Gale 63, G.J. Kruis 50 not out).

Division Two:

At Chesterfield: Derbyshire (10pts) drew with Northamptonshire (11pts).

Northamptonshire 399 (L. Klusener 135, M.H. Wessels 79; C.K. Langeveldt 5-52) and 216-3 declared (S.D. Peters 104 not out, M.H. Wessels 52 not out); Derbyshire 342 (J.C. Clare 88, G.M. Smith 76, C.J.L. Rogers 57; A.J. Hall 5-81)

At Cheltenham: Worcestershire (22pts) beat Gloucestershire (4pts) by an innings and 142 runs.

Gloucestershire 283 (M.J. North 98, D.O. Brown 83; Kabir Ali 6-94) and 247 (M.J. North 78, D.O. Brown 53; S.P. Jones 4-89); Worcestershire 672-7 declared (V.S. Solanki 270, S.C. Moore 129, S.M. Davies 99 not out, G.J. Batty 66; S.P. Kirby 4-136).

At Leicester: Leicestershire (12pts) drew with Warwickshire (8pts).

Leicestershire 432 (H.D. Ackerman 199, T Smith 63, C Henderson 53 not out, I.D.K. Salisbury 5-87); Warwickshire 267 (J.O. Troughton 55; M.N. Malik 5-57) and 169-3 (M.J. Powell 68 not out).—Agencies