da supremo： An unflinching, unbeaten century from England Test discard Mark Ramprakashhas guided Middlesex to a score of 227 all out on the first day of itsCounty Championship clash with Sussex at Southgate
da bet7k： Staff and agencies28-Jul-2000An unflinching, unbeaten century from England Test discard Mark Ramprakashhas guided Middlesex to a score of 227 all out on the first day of itsCounty Championship clash with Sussex at Southgate.Come rain, thunder and shine all in the one day, Ramprakash was not to bemoved from the crease in an innings that showcased all of his trademarkdetermination. His smooth-stroking 110 was certainly the best possibleriposte in the wake of his omission from the team to play West Indies atOld Trafford next week.Aside from the diminutive right hander’s play, though, this was anothertough day for the Division Two cellar dwellers. In overcast conditions,there was little resolve about their batting. Medium pacers James Kirtley(5/50) and Robin Martin-Jenkins (3/55) revelled in the early going,reducing the locals to 26/2 inside the first hour. The former was evenmore impressive later in the day, coming back in a second spell to inspirethe quick destruction of the home team’s middle order in a collapse thatsaw six wickets lost for the addition of a meagre 95 runs.Middlesex made two strikes of their own – including one in the shadows ofstumps – to have Sussex at 84/2 in reply by the close, but there remains noimmediate indication that its bowlers will be able to summon adequatereward for the considerable skill of their number four batsman.
