Patient Batty keeps Kent at bay

County Championship D1, The Oval, day one (close):
Surrey 251-4 v Kent
Match scorecard

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Jon Batty made a determined unbeaten 70 as Surrey reached 251-4 on the opening day against Kent at The Oval.

Batty spent five hours at the crease and shared a century stand with Usman Afzaal, who hit nine fours in his 57.

Mark Ramprakash played some stylish shots in his 48, sharing 64 in 28 overs with Batty, but was again denied his elusive 100th first-class century.

He had made 48 when edged an away swinger and was superbly caught low to his right by keeper Geraint Jones.

As usual the Oval wicket looked perfect for batting, and Scott Newman struck consecutive boundaries off Yasir Arafat.

He was caught at mid-on after mis-timing a pull, while Matthew Spriegel, who was dropped at third slip by James Tredwell off Robbie Joseph on 12, was bowled for 17 by Ryan McLaren with one that came in a fraction.

Although keen to preserve wickets, Ramprakash looked in fine touch, getting off the mark with an elegant cover drive to the boundary off Joseph.

Batty recorded the fifty stand with a leg glance, while Ramprakash hit a scorching stroke through extra-cover shortly before his dismissal.

Having gone to 46 in the third over after tea when he guided a ball from Arafat to third man, Batty then took nearly half an hour for the next four runs to bring up his third half-century in four Championship innings.

Afzaal cut Joseph to point for his eighth boundary to reach his half-century from 102 balls. The left-hander then drove Arafat to the cover boundary to bring up the century partnership, but was caught behind wafting at a rising delivery next ball.