Ramprakash adds to Sussex misery

County Championship D1, Hove: Sussex v Surrey 311-2 (stumps, day one)

Match scorecard

Veteran Ramprakash continues to score prolifically

Veteran Mark Ramprakash plundered his fourth century of the season as Surrey added to champions Sussex's misery.

The hosts have lost their last two Championship games by an innings and were again on the receiving end.

Scott Newman and Jon Batty put on 83 for the first wicket to lay a platform from which Ramprakash (122no) and captain Mark Butcher (75no) thrived.

They added an unbroken 199 before bad light and rain forced an early halt with Surrey well placed on 311-2.

Ramprakash, who could have been run out early on, gave two other chances: he was dropped behind off Luke Wright, who spilled a difficult catch at short mid-wicket off Mushtaq Ahmed.

He hit 15 well-timed fours and a huge straight six off Mushtaq as he reached three figures from 134 balls.

Newman batted smoothly until he mistimed a pull off medium-pacer Wright and Robin Martin-Jenkins took a comfortable catch at third man.

I know I've only got a couple of seasons left and I've got have to make the most of it and enjoy my cricket Mark Ramprakash

Batty survived an lbw appeal from Rana Naved-ul-Hasan before falling to the Pakistani pace bowler by edging a low catch to third slip.

Butcher's innings should have ended on 10 when Chris Adams put down a straightforward chance at second slip off Martin-Jenkins and Sussex have plenty of work to do on day two.

Ramprakash's prolific form shows no sign of abating in the twilight of his career and he told BBC Sport at stumps: "I am enjoying my cricket and I feel relaxed at the crease.

"I know I've only got a couple of seasons left and I've got to make the most of it and enjoy my cricket.

"I'm 37 but you keep learning all the time. You learn lots of little bits about the game, the balance between attack and defence - when to attack, when to absorb pressure from the opposition.

"Some days you don't feel right, your feet aren't moving and you're not feeling the best rhythm but you fight through it and that's experience."