Ramprakash Turns the Screw on Lancashire's Title Aspirations

If Lancashire fall at this final hurdle in their quest for a first outright championship since 1934 they will surely reflect on two reprieves for Mark Ramprakash in the first half hour yesterday that cost them control of the title race.

An unusually flighty Ramprakash could have been run out before scoring had Paul Horton been able to gather Sajid Mahmood's quick-thinking flick and break the stumps, and then offered a desperately difficult chance to Steven Croft at third slip when he was still in single figures.

The watching Lancastrians would have had a queasy feeling about what might happen next. Ramprakash proved them right, reaching his ninth first-class century of the season by the time bad light forced an early close.

In 1950, when Lancashire last led the championship going into their final match and also traveled to The Oval needing only to claim a first-innings lead to clinch the title, they were denied by Peter May's stubborn 92 and ended up sharing top spot with Surrey. Now Ramprakash has left them with a mountain to climb and they may need some help from Worcestershire, the weather or both if they are to preserve their six-point lead over Sussex.

"The missed run-out was a crucial moment," conceded Lancashire's manager, Mike Watkinson. Horton had reacted quickly at short leg to move to the stumps after Ramprakash set off for a suicidal single, but Sajid's flick bounced away off his legs with Surrey's run machine well out of his ground. In the next over Glen Chapple's leg-cutter induced an edge from Ramprakash that Croft could not quite scoop up. "It was a catch of the season job, but sometimes they are the ones you have to take," Watkinson added.

There were no more chances after that, at least from Ramprakash, and although Dominic Cork had Scott Newman caught behind and Mark Butcher gifted Sajid a second wicket with a potty pull, Surrey accelerated to 273 for four at tea. James Benning put the boot into Lancashire with a 26-ball half century, and Ramprakash accumulated with his usual style. Lancashire's dream is not over yet, but their 73-year wait is not going to end easily.