The torturous wait endured by Mark Ramprakash as he strives for his 100th first-class century has become something of an epic struggle. He was further frustrated yesterday by the mundanity of a wet day in the Midlands. It is more than two months since he made his 99th century, against Sussex. Before that innings, he had scored five centuries in his previous eight innings, but since he reached the threshold of history the runs have mysteriously dried up.

This is his ninth attempt to score that elusive century - he has not reached 50 in his past eight innings - and he played with the utmost care yesterday on a slow pitch, crawling to 19 from 75 balls before rain ruined his day. After an hour and a half of uninterrupted play in the morning session, only 30 overs were bowled.

Ramprakash's cautious approach may have been partly because of his own lack of form, but the needs of his team, Surrey, also demanded it after they had lost two early wickets.

Darren Pattinson, who was named last week in England's 30-man preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, continued his fine first season at Trent Bridge by taking wickets in his first and third overs.

With his third ball, he found extra bounce to have Stewart Walters well taken at third slip by Graeme Swann. Scott Newman was his next victim, adjudged to be caught behind as he cut at a wide ball, although he was clearly unhappy with the decision of the umpire.

In the County Championship this season, the Nottinghamshire bowler has taken 26 wickets at 21 runs apiece. The 29-year-old is proving to be one of the signings of the season.

Surrey: First Innings
S A Newman c Read b Pattinson 18
S J Walters c Swann b Pattinson 0
*M R Ramprakash not out 19
J N Batty not out 19
Extras (lb 3) 3

Total (2 wkts, 30 overs) 59

M N W Spriegel, U Afzaal, J W Dernbach, M J Nicholson, C J Jordan, Saqlain Mushtaq and P T Collins to bat.

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-25.

Bowling: Shreck 9-3-20-0; Pattinson 9-3-16-2; Ealham 6-1-12-0; Adams 6-3-8-0.

Nottinghamshire: W I Jefferson, M J Wood, M A Wagh, A C Voges, S R Patel, *C M W Read, G P Swann, A R Adams, M A Ealham, D J Pattinson, C E Shreck.

Umpires: M J D Bodenham and P Willey.