COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Grace Road:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY ONE: Surrey 353-4 v Leicestershire
Surrey 4pts, Leicestershire 1ptMatch scorecard

Ramprakash claimed his fifth hundred of the season

Mark Ramprakash hit an unbeaten 179 as Surrey raced to 353-4 on the first day of their County Championship match at Leicestershire at Grace Road.

Veteran Ramprakash and Ireland international batsman Gary Wilson (94) put on a fourth-wicket stand of 217.

Skipper Matthew Hoggard led the Leicestershire attack taking 2-53.

Hoggard and head coach Tim Boon have called for the resignation of chairman Neil Davidson, who has been accused of interfering in team matters.

After putting the visitors into bat, Hoggard struck early to claim the wickets of Arun Harinath and Tom Lancefield, trapping them both lbw to leave Surrey struggling on 11-2.

But having survived an early onslaught from Nathan Buck, Ramprakash began to punish the Leicestershire attack as he went on to claim 22 boundaries and one six to take his season total to over 1,500 runs.

Rory Hamilton-Brown also put the hosts on the back foot as he raced to 36 off 37 balls before being caught by James Taylor at short leg off Claude Henderson.

Henderson claimed his second wicket as Steve Davies edged to slip for 19 before Ramprakash and Wilson took control to give the visitors a decent lead going into the second day.

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