Ramprakash takes charge

County Championship D1, Northampton, day one (stumps):
Surrey 380-6 v Northamptonshire

Full scorecard

Ramps played one of the best innings I have ever seen Jon Batty

Mark Ramprakash hit 161, his highest score of the season as Surrey posted 380-6 on day one against Northants.

Captain Jon Batty (61) shared a 180-run stand to save the visitors from difficulty at 57-3 after opting to bat.

And Adam Hollioake, who went on to hit 74 from 78 balls, helped add 89 more before Ramprakash was bowled by Carl Greenidge with the second new ball.

Off-spinner Jason Brown took three of the wickets to fall on an awkward, turning pitch but bowled 40 overs.

Surrey captain Jon Batty was left full of admiration after Ramprakash's innings.

"Ramps played one of the best innings I have ever seen, on a wicket that was turning like this one has from early on day one," he said.

"I have not played on a wicket like that in my career, to be doing that so early in the match.

"When I was batting I was thinking if we could get up towards 250 or 300 we would still be in the game."

Surrey left paceman Alex Tudor out of their squad, despite impressive recent one-day form, as coach Steve Rixon wants him to test his fitness in the second XI.

Spinner Ian Salisbury returned from a knee injury.

Winless Northamptonshire made one change, bringing in opening batter Rob White for keeper-batsman Gerard Brophy.

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Northamptonshire: T W Roberts, R A White, M L Love, U Afzaal, D J G Sales (Capt), G P Swann, B J Phillips, J Louw, T M B Bailey (Wkt), C G Greenidge, J F Brown.

Surrey: S A Newman, R Clarke, M R Ramprakash, J N Batty (Capt, Wkt), J G E Benning, A J Hollioake, Azhar Mahmood, I D K Salisbury, J Ormond, N D Doshi, P J Sampson.