MARK RAMPRAKASH, an Arsenal fan, put aside Wednesday night’s disappointment by constructing his third first-class hundred of the season and the 82nd of his career as Surrey took control.

In reaching three figures off 148 balls, Ramprakash moved past Sunil Gavaskar and Mark Waugh in the list of century-makers and, having passed 27,000 first-class runs yesterday, he needs 81 more to overtake Allan Border. That historians will place Ramprakash several rungs below these three suggests a similarity with Arsenal: majestic against weaker sides but a smidgin short on the big occasion.

Ramprakash’s innings was beautiful at times but ended on 118, when he offered no stroke to a ball from Kabir Ali that cut in and removed his off bail.

Graeme Hick showed England something about the art of catching, with three taken at slip, including Mark Butcher for 74, one of three wickets in a seven-over collapse before Surrey’s middle order added 116 runs to set a declaration. Worcestershire negotiated the final hour without alarm.