Butcher makes most of rare one-day outing

Mark Butcher made a mockery of the perception that he is not a one-day player by scoring his maiden hundred in the National League on his first appearance in the competition for almost two years.

The last time Butcher played in the 45-over tournament, in September 2001, he scored a half-century. On that occasion the side on the receiving end was also Yorkshire.

Yesterday's innings was not without controversy, indeed the whole match was sprinkled with incident and accident.

When Butcher was on 32 there was a vociferous appeal for a catch behind off the bowling of Ryan Sidebottom which was turned down by the impassive umpire, Ian Gould, that prompted some improper body language from the Yorkshire players.

Butcher remained serene, proceeding at just about a run a ball to what was his first century in all one-day cricket. Studded with glorious drives and languid cuts, it ensured that the Division One leaders cruised to a comfortable victory.

He made light of a tremendous performance by the Yorkshire fast bowler Steven Kirby, who had bowled Alistair Brown with a beauty in the second over of the Surrey reply.

Mark Ramprakash's half-century was also spiced with peppery confrontation, most notably when Tim Bresnan threw the ball at the stumps, hitting the batsman instead. They moved menacingly towards each other, words were exchanged but nothing ensued.

Ramprakash went on to pass 50 for the fourth time in six National League outings this season, sharing in a second-wicket stand of 158 in 30 overs with Butcher, before the latter departed to a simple catch to mid-off. But by then the hard work had been done and an inadequate total was passed with 41 balls to spare.

Yorkshire's cause was not helped by losing Matthew Wood to the first ball of the match. The last man, Kirby, also made a golden duck to create an unusual symmetry to the innings.

To make matters worse, Craig White had to be removed from the bowling attack with a suspected recurrence of the rib injury for which he has already undergone surgery this season.

Stephen Fleming, the New Zealand captain, got things back on course with his Sunday best 90, in the course of which he suffered a hamstring, but it was in vain.

* A century from Ed Smith helped Kent to a 52-run win against the reigning champions Glamorgan, who now trail Surrey by six points. Smith hit 122 off 107 balls, including nine fours and four sixes.