If there is any meaning at all left in this match, it surrounds whether the remarkable Mark Ramprakash can complete a 99th first-class hundred today. At the close last night he was unbeaten on 66 and looking as run-hungry as usual.

Geoff Miller, the England chairman of selectors, was present yesterday but sadly it seems as if Ramprakash cannot do anything more - having already averaged more than 100 in each of the past two seasons - to win a Test recall at the age of 38.

More likely, Miller was on hand to check on the form of Luke Wright and Matt Prior, and to consult Chris Adams and Mark Butcher, the veteran captains, on what their experienced eyes have told them in these early weeks of the season.

It is a pity that the rain that washed away the opening day has consigned this match to a certain draw, but a declaration game at this stage of the first division season is about as likely as an imminent return to timeless Tests.

Sussex are also having to make do without their main match-winner, Mushtaq Ahmed, who is recovering from a minor knee operation.

To be fair to Sussex, they were put in to bat and had every right to make Surrey sweat on bowling them out. Resuming on 318 for five, the main requirement was to collect maximum batting points, and half-centuries from Prior and Robin Martin-Jenkins meant that was comfortably achieved.

Prior has begun the season in determined mood after being dropped by England in midwinter. He was audibly annoyed at the skied pull that cut him short on 51, but it was still his fourth score above fifty in six first-class innings and he has 329 runs at 54.83.

James Kirtley, the nightwatchman, was out in the next over - missing a sweep at Saqlain Mushtaq - but Martin-Jenkins contributed an assured 53 not out and, in stands of 55 with Wright and 47 with Ollie Rayner, kept Surrey in the field until mid-afternoon.

Wright, disappointingly, drilled a catch to mid-off as, rather more comically following a lengthy and seemingly earnest mid-pitch discussion with Martin-Jenkins, did last man Lewry to only his second ball.

Martin-Jenkins was then the pick of the Sussex bowlers, twice being close to lbw decisions against Jon Batty before winning a third appeal in his fourth over and later returning to end Scott Newman's typically bright 68.

Scott Newman, who made 68, and Ramprakash were made to work hard for runs as Martin-Jenkins, who took both Surrey wickets to fall, and Jason Lewry bowled testingly with the new ball for an hour before tea. But afterwards they both moved fluently to their fifties in a partnership worth 106 in 30 overs.

Scoreboard

Sussex: First Innings (overnight 318-5)
M J Prior c Brown b Jordan 51
R J Kirtley lbw b Saqlain 19
L J Wright c Newman b Ormond 20
R S C Martin-Jenkins not out 53
O P Rayner c Batty b Saqlain 21
J D Lewry c Newman b Saqlain 0
Extras (b 4, lb 20, w 4, nb 2) 30
Total (141 overs) 475

Fall of wickets: 1-87, 2-117, 3-246, 4-283, 5-315, 6-373, 7-373, 8-428, 9-475.
Bowling: Collins 25-6-85-2; Ormond 22-5-59-1; Jordan 21-3-66-1; Nicholson 23-6-62-1; Saqlain 36-3-126-4; Afzaal 14-1-53-1.

Surrey: First Innings
S A Newman lbw b Martin-Jenkins 68
J N Batty lbw b Martin-Jenkins 17
M R Ramprakash not out 66
*M A Butcher not out 10
Extras (w 1, nb 2) 3
Total (2 wkts, 50 overs) 164
U Afzaal, A D Brown, C J Jordan, M J Nicholson, J Ormond, Saqlain Mushtaq and P T Collins to bat.

Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-138.
Bowling: Lewry 12-2-47-0; Martin-Jenkins 13-4-36-2; Kirtley 7-2-23-0; Wright 5-0-30-0; Yardy 11-1-25-0; Rayner 2-1-3-0.

Umpires: R A Kettleborough and N A Mallender.

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