Surrey
Runs for Ramps
By Ben Horne
May 4 2006
Mark Ramprakash hit 276 not out as Surrey hit a huge first innings total of 608 for 7 against Gloucestershire at Bristol. Ramprakash shared in a stand of 187 with James Benning who made 112.
Day one
Gloucestershire won the toss and decided to bat. Spearman and Windows departed early to leave Gloucestershire 14 for 2. Things did not get better as Chris Taylor, Alex Gidman and Ian Harvey all fell in quick succession as Gloucestershire were reduced to 61 for 5. Adshead (23) and Weston took the score to 109 as they put up some resistance against the Surrey bowlers. Ball (16) and Averis (21) gave Weston useful help, with partnerships of 36 and 50 respectively Weston was the last man out for 102, as Gloucestershire were bowled out for 207 all out.
John Batty fell early on for just 4, but Scott Newman and Mark Ramprakash 199, to leave Surrey 132 for 1 at the close.
Day Two
Newman was the first to depart as he fell leg before wicket to Martyn Ball, who picked up his first of 5 wickets. Ramprakash and Butcher added 113 as Surrey took control. When Brown was dismissed for 4, Ramprakash was joined by Benning who was making his first County Championship start of the season and celebrating his 23rd birthday. Together they dominated the Gloucestershire bowling attack with a stand of 187. Benning hit 112 from just 108 balls. His second 50 came in just 28 balls. Ramprakash and Mahmood, who made a useful 39 from 48 balls added 110. Ramprakash ended on 276 not out, scoring 222 runs in the day as he hit his highest score for two years. He is also closing in on his highest first class score of 279. If Ramprakash scores 300 he will be the first Surrey player to do this in a first class match since Sir Jack Hobbs in 1926, when he hit 313 at Lords.
The Gloucestershire bowling attack struggled to cope without Captain John Lewis, who is playing for England A. Martyn Ball took 5 for 115 but there was no back up.