Super Ali Brown

By Ben Horne
June 20 2004

Ali Brown hit his first century in almost two years to leave Surrey in a strong position after day two of their county game with Gloucestershire at the Brit Oval. Brown hit 131 not out while lions skipper John Batty scored 106. At the close Surrey were 419 for 5, 51 ahead of Gloucestershire.

Resuming on 2 for 1, Newman and Ramprakash added 62. Ramprakash fell for a patient 5 when he was caught by Weston with Lewis the bowler. Newman and Clarke then put on 70 but when on 73 Newman fell to Ian Fisher. Clarke followed shortly for 43 from just 49 balls. John Batty and Ali Brown came to the crease and together they amassed a huge partnership of 121. Both managed to hit centuries, with Brown his first for 2 years. Brown looked in sensational form by hitting the ball all around the ground. He especially took to spinner Ian Fisher and at one point, Brown hit a huge six in to the Bedser Stand and almost injured a spectator. Batty fell just before the close for 106 while Brown remained unbeaten on 131, when an early close was taken because of bad light.

Gloucestershire First Innings (Surrey won toss):

Weston	c Ormond	b Bicknell	19
Spearmen	lbw	b Ormond	0
Windows	lbw	b Ormond	6
Taylor	c Brown	b Murtagh	177
Gidmen	lbw	b Bicknell	62
Shoaib Malik	c Hollioake	b Murtagh	4
Adshead	c Batty	b Murtagh	13
Fisher	c Hollioake	b Ormond	5
Averis	Not out		48
Lewis	c and	b Murtagh	0
Shabbir Ahmed	lbw	b Murtagh	0
Extras			34
Total	(all out, 97.4 overs)		368

Surrey First Innings:

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Newman	c Gidmen	b Fisher	73
Hollioake	Run out		5
Ramprakash	c Weston	b Lewis	5
Clarke	c Adshead	b Shabbir Ahmed	43
Batty	c Averis	b Fisher	106
Brown	Not out		131
Bicknell	Not out		21
Extras			40
Total	(all out, 92.1overs)		419

TO BAT: I Salisbury, T Murtagh, N Doshi