To discover when Yorkshire last defeated Surrey at The Oval, as they did here with inordinate ease once Mark Ramprakash was out for a rare single figure score, it was necessary to trawl back to 1978, or, for a victory of this magnitude, 1968. Much was the difference the availability of two England fast bowlers, Matthew Hoggard and Darren Gough, made yesterday.

Hoggard, surplus to England’s requirements in the World Cup — it has never been completely clear why such a fine performer in Test matches does not excel at the one-day game — dismissed four of Surrey’s upper-order batsmen for 16 runs in 38 balls, which, in the context of such a high-scoring match, was some achievement.

Gough, the new Yorkshire captain who retained sufficient self-belief to feel he should have been in the Caribbean himself, took the first two wickets to fall in the morning. These included Ramprakash, a century-maker in the first innings, but out leg-before now when only half forward.

If Surrey were to make a further 470 to win, an improbable enough task even on this pitch, he would have to make a fair portion of them. With him went any vestige of hope.

It is quite evident that Gough has invigorated Yorkshire already, as was only to be expected from such a wonderfully extrovert and positive individual. The wonder is that Yorkshire ever let him go to another county.

His presence could only have geed up England in the World Cup, for that matter, even if he has lost, through advancing years, that extra nip which once disconcerted the very best Australians.

Gough gave himself first use of the Pavilion End ahead of Hoggard, utilising the highly promising leg spin of Adil Rashid from the Vauxhall End. Pitches around the country in this remarkably hot spring are already dry enough to give some assistance to the slow bowlers on the final day, and there was a little slow turn here. Rashid was to remove two tailenders.

The quicker bowlers, however, took six wickets between them before lunch. Surrey had already lost Jon Batty overnight, and now Ramprakash, having survived one appeal from Hoggard, went for five.

It is true that playing in the First Division will be that much harder for him than was the case in the Second Division last year, when he averaged 105.3 in championship matches, but for him to be dismissed for a lowly score still comes as a shock.

If there was any movement for Gough and Hoggard, it was only marginal. The dismissal of James Benning did occur through the ball stopping on him and an attempted flick through the on side, resulting in a well-taken low catch by Joe Sayers at short mid-wicket, but this was the exception.

Gough took his second wicket through hitting Rikki Clarke’s off stump as Clarke shouldered arms.

That was 78 for three, and when Alistair Brown played an indifferent drive across the line at Hoggard, Surrey’s middle order was succumbing. Only Scott Newman remained steadfast.

Next, Hoggard captured two wickets in an over, first dismissing Benning and then having Azhar Mahmood naffled by Jacques Rudolph at first slip. His accuracy hereabouts was as marked as ever. Yorkshire will definitely be able to include him against Durham at Headingley next week, and, conceivably, in the fixture against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl after that.

If, as has been mooted, Peter Moores will be more sympathetic towards ECB contracted cricketers playing for their counties than Duncan Fletcher was as England coach, then Yorkshire can only benefit. Besides, Hoggard is the kind of bowler who thrives on a considerable workload, and who, if cloud cover ever returns in this age of global warming, will swing the ball once again.

When Newman pushed forward weakly at Hoggard, having made by some way the highest score of the day, 89 off 118 balls included 17 fours, Surrey had progressed to no more than 133 for seven. The sun was still high behind the yardarm, and, sure enough, the end came swiftly after lunch. Gough appropriately enough, took his third wicket, that of James Ormond.

Surrey, then, were beaten by 346 runs. The second biggest defeat they have suffered in terms of runs opposed to wickets. The worst came in 1911, when Middlesex triumphed by 353 runs.

So a woeful start upon their return to Division One, which they should never have left in the first place. No wonder Gough, an inspired choice as captain of Yorkshire, even if he could be said to have been appointed several years too late, described this as “an awesome victory”. In fact he was so taken with this description that he was to repeat the adjective several times.