COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Lord's:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Surrey 186-2, Middlesex 385 (Middlesex 4pts, Surrey 3pt)
30 June-3 July 2009 (1100-1800 BST)

Ramprakash hit eight fours in his unbeaten 64

Former England pair Mark Ramprakash and Mark Butcher shared an unbroken stand of 99 to help Surrey hit back at Middlesex on day two at Lord's.

Ramprakash ended the day 64 not out, with Butcher unbeaten on 48, as Surrey closed on 186-2, a deficit of 199.

Earlier, Middlesex added 116 to their overnight score of 269-5 to be bowled out for 385.

Chris Nash made 43 and Shaun Udal 33, while Andre Nel picked up 4-59 with off-spinner Simon King taking 3-61.

Debutant King picked up three of the Middlesex wickets to fall on Wednesday on a pitch that is becoming increasingly dusty.

Surrey openers Michael Brown (44) and Jon Batty (24) shared 62 for the first wicket before Batty was caught by Dawid Malan off the bowling of Gareth Berg.

Brown followed soon after, caught behind by David Nash off Neil Dexter to bring Butcher and Ramprakash together at the crease.

The patience of the former England pair was tested by an 18-over spell where off-spinner Udal bowled in tandem with Indian left-armer Murali Kartik.

But Ramprakash in particular could not be tempted, repeatedly padding Kartik away before bringing up his half-century with his seventh boundary.

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