WHILE Surrey are enduring one of their worst runs in the Frizzell County Championship for some time — no victories and four defeats in their past six matches — the very idea of putting them in to bat at the Oval still carries a health warning. Hoping that conditions would assist his bowlers, David Sales, the Northamptonshire captain, took a calculated risk when play started at 2.45pm, but had to look on as his attack was pummelled all around the ground by the in-form Scott Newman.

With the ball refusing to swing and only occasionally seaming off an excellent pitch, Surrey’s progress was as inexorable as that of the four JCB diggers that rumbled around the Vauxhall End all day shifting earth. Within 13 overs, Sales had reduced his close catchers to two slips and he had become the only member of the cordon when Jon Batty edged a catch to him in the 26th over with 93 on the board. Johann Louw, the bowler, was rewarded for his good length on or around off stump.

Finally granted a regular first-team place after the winter departure of Ian Ward, Newman has already made more than 400 first-class runs this April. While 115 of those were against Oxford UCCE, he began with a pair of 86s in the championship before trumping those with an unbeaten 90 off 104 balls yesterday. His innings was a thoroughly convincing one, even if the Northamptonshire attack was unthreatening.

Like most tall, powerful left-handers, he is especially strong through extra cover, as Ben Phillips found when he was twice hit there for four off the back foot. Anything dropped short was cut or pulled, and when Jason Brown’s off spin was introduced, Newman showed the same nimble footwork as the footballer from whom he takes his nickname on account of a strong physical resemblance, Ronaldo. Dancing down the pitch to Brown, he drove him over mid-off for four and then six.

Newman shared a watchable second-wicket stand of 70 in 76 balls with Mark Ramprakash, whose 34 included six fours and a six off Brown. Ramprakash fell to what proved to be the last ball of the day when, trying to work Steffan Jones through the on side, he was caught at second slip.