Somerset moved to within three points of Nottinghamshire at the top of the first division as Andrew Caddick celebrated his new contract with a five-wicket haul yesterday, but a masterly 200 not out from 337 balls by Mark Ramprakash ensured that Surrey first avoided the follow-on target of 252 and then took full batting points with a draw at Taunton.

Ramprakash, completing the 101st century of his career immediately after No 100, offered a single chance, to Justin Langer at slip off Ian Blackwell, on 147 before shepherding the lower order to 406 for nine from 336 for seven.

Yorkshire took the timid option at Old Trafford yesterday of pursuing bonus points rather than declaring early and pushing for an innings victory over Lancashire. At lunch, they were 124 ahead and, on a worn pitch, could have given themselves two sessions to bowl out Lancashire.

Instead, they batted on to 400, leaving only 51 overs for their bowlers to chase a win, and although Matthew Hoggard had Iain Sutcliffe caught behind in the first over, Lancashire lost only three wickets. Sutcliffe announced his retirement after the match to pursue a career outside the game.

With Charl Langeveldt, the South Africa seam bowler, claiming five for 40, his best figures in England, and Wavell Hinds taking three wickets in his first five overs, Derbyshire were left to make only 126 runs against Middlesex at Derby yesterday to complete the third win of their second division campaign.

Middlesex, consigned to their third defeat in four matches, lost their final seven wickets for 48 in 75 minutes either side of lunch to a heady mix of wild drives and pinpoint yorkers, as they folded for 166. Derbyshire, moving to victory by seven wickets when Dan Birch hit his second six to end unbeaten with 66, are now 22 points behind second-placed Warwickshire, whom they play in their next match.

Essex enjoyed the better of an inevitable draw against Warwickshire at Edgbaston after Graham Napier’s blistering 62-ball 76 gave them a batting point. That had looked in doubt when David Masters was eighth out at 158, before support for Napier came first from Danish Kaneria and then from Mark Pettini, who batted at No 11 because of blurred vision caused by an astigmatism. Chris Woakes, whose fine outswing bowling brought him three wickets, had done most to undermine the Essex innings.

Glamorgan’s match against Gloucestershire at Cardiff, spoilt by the first two days having been washed out, drifted into a dull draw. Gloucestershire declared on 400 for seven, Chris Taylor making 91 off 116 balls with 11 fours and a six, but there was no forfeiture of innings and Glamorgan batted out the day. David Hemp finished with an unbeaten 53 off 90 balls, with six fours.