LONDON, May 12: Mark Ramprakash struck an unbeaten century to lead Surrey to victory over Lancashire on the final day of their English County Championship Division One match at The Oval Saturday.
On the day he was overlooked for England’s Test squad to play Sri Lanka next week, Ramprakash emphatically hit back at the selectors with an innings of 119 not out to help his side to a three-wicket win.
Resuming on 200 for four, Surrey lost Alec Stewart, who had better luck than Ramprakash as he earned an England recall at the age of 39, and then suffered a late scare before edging over the finishing line.
Ramprakash and Stewart posted a century stand for the fifth wicket before the England wicket-keeper departed four runs short of his half-century.
However, Ramprakash remained at the crease and recorded his first century of the season, off 197 balls with 12 fours.
Azhar Mahmood and Alex Tudor then made brief cameos to nudge Surrey closer, but it was Martin Bicknell who stayed with Ramprakash and finished the game with a towering six to inflict Lancashire’s first defeat in the championship this season.
Leicestershire completed a thrilling run chase to defeat Warwickshire and record their second Division One victory of the season at Grace Road.
Set 94 runs to win in the last hour, Leicestershire sneaked home with nine balls remaining to secure a nail-biting seven-wicket win.
Iain Sutcliffe, Darren Stevens and Neil Burns all succumbed during the hunt but Australian star Michael Bevan led the home side past the winning post, firing a trademark innings of 39 from 50 balls.
Warwickshire had earlier offered some stern resistance, with Nick Knight making 130 and Shaun Pollock 66 to help the visitors total 439 in their second innings having been forced to follow on.
Elsewhere Australian pace bowler Mike Kasprowicz took five for 77 as Glamorgan beat Worcestershire by 110 runs in their Division Two game at New Road.
Saturday’s results:
(Final day of four):
Division one:
At The Oval: Surrey beat Lancashire by three wickets. Lancashire 320 (A. Flintoff 137) and 200 (Azhar Mahmood 8-61); Surrey 216 (A.J. Tudor 61; G. Chapple 5-65) and 309-7 (M.R. Ramprakash 119 not out). Surrey 16 points, Lancashire six.
At Leicester: Leicestershire beat Warwickshire by seven wickets. Leicestershire 523 (M.G. Bevan 146, D.I. Stevens 125, I. Sutcliffe 71; A.F. Giles 5-126) and 97-3; Warwickshire 177 (S.M. Pollock 59) and 439 (N.V. Knight 130, M.J. Powell 67, J. Troughton 66, S.M. Pollock 66). Leicestershire 19 points, Warwickshire 1.
Division two:
At Worester: Glamorgan beat Worcestershire by 110 runs. Glamorgan 286 (J. Hughes 74, R.D.B. Croft 59, M.J. Powell 53; Kabir Ali 5-80, A.J. Bichel 4-39) and 348 (D.L. Hemp 64, M.J. Powell 59; A. Sheriyar 5-86); Worcestershire 298 (A. Singh 81, S.D. Peters 71; S.D. Thomas 5-77) and 226 (B.F. Smith 61; M.S. Kasprowicz 5-77). Glamorgan 17 points, Worcestershire five.—AFP/Reuters