ALISTAIR BROWN will always have fond memories of Old Trafford. It was here that he scored his one-day hundred for England against India in 1996, and here that, yesterday, he completed a full set of centuries against all opposing 17 first-class counties. Two of the three batsmen who have managed hundreds against all 18 counties are playing in this match: Mark Ramprakash and Carl Hooper. Neither of them could have played any better than Brown did.

Over the years, Brown has often rescued Surrey when they have been in trouble, as they were yesterday when he came to the crease at 58 for four. Although his reputation is primarily one of a swashbuckler, he has ground out a good many of his 35 first-class hundreds, and this one took him 181 balls with only ten fours. Batting was never straightforward on a pitch that turned from the first session, generously at times.

Gary Keedy wheeled away for much of the day, getting through 38 overs on a slow, bone-dry surface but should have bowled round the wicket more at the left-handers. He began by removing Scott Newman with one that spun in sharply, but was unable to apply sufficient pressure on the fifth-wicket pair of Brown and Jon Batty, whose determined stand of 119 in 40 overs could prove crucial. Batty pulled a long hop to square leg but Brown, despite early good fortune, never gave a chance.

When Azhar Mahmood edged Keedy to gully, and Martin Bicknell played on, Lancashire’s hopes of bowling Surrey out for a manageable total were scuppered by another big partnership. Tim Murtagh stayed with Brown against a tiring attack for the last 33 overs of the day while adding an unbroken 121 for the eighth wicket. Some of Murtagh’s off-side strokes were as well executed as those of Brown, who drove and cut powerfully as well as playing well through mid-wicket.

Sajid Mahmood was the pick of Lancashire’s attack. He produced beauties to remove Mark Butcher and Ramprakash. The former fell to extra bounce and the latter, back when better forward, was leg-before to an off cutter.