Mark Ramprakash ton gives Surrey edge over Gloucestershire

Mark Ramprakash hit his first championship century of the summer to help bat Surrey into a sizeable lead over Gloucestershire at Cheltenham.

Surrey resumed day two on 13-0 but lost openers Rory Hamilton-Brown and Steven Davies in quick succession.

Ramprakash, dropped on four, then took over, adding 87 for the third wicket with Zander de Bruyn (60) and 126 for the eighth with Yasir Arafat (54no).

He fell just before stumps for 141, with Surrey closing 106 ahead on 392-8.

By then, that early miss by home wicketkeeper Richard Coughtrie off David Payne, had proved very expensive, with 41-year-old Ramprakash bringing up the 114th first-class hundred of his career with a cut for his 12th four, having faced 183 balls.

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BBC London 94.9's Mark Church:

"Surrey have forced themselves into a very strong position after the second day at Cheltenham. Mark Ramprakash recorded his 114th first-class hundred putting him 15th in the all-time list with Sir Vivian Richards and in the process he batted Surrey into a handsome lead.

"Ramprakash was dismissed just before the close for 141 but with the help of Yasir Arafat, who is unbeaten on 54, they turned the day towards Surrey in the final session as the visitors closed on 392-8.

"A lead of 106 is extremely handy and Gloucestershire know they are going to have to bat very well in the their second innings to stay in the game."