Ever since Peter Sellers coined the phrase ‘Balham - gateway to the south’ it has been assumed that the only way to the Promised Land was via the A24. But just over a year ago, Mark Ramprakash had no need to go as far as Balham High Road to rekindle his affection for county cricket, trading places like Southgate - which, on yesterday’s evidence, rivals Derby as the windiest venue on the circuit - for The Oval.

The 32-year-old is yet to make his mark at places like Guildford and Whitgift, which are even further down on the map; but give it time - he hasn’t played at either venue yet for Surrey. If his record at Middlesex’s out ground is anything to go by - he averaged 122.25 in first-class cricket there and made a regal 87 not out in 111 balls on his return yesterday - the transition will soon be complete.

When the weather eventually lit up a setting that was already extremely kind on the eye, Ramprakash was well set. Apart from giving a chance to backward point on 42, he fused watchfulness with aggression in just the right measure to carry Surrey to their fourth successive one-day victory under the guiding hand of Adam Hollioake.

The former Middlesex favourite found a more than useful ally in Rikki Clarke who, at 20, is attracting attention after just four first-class and ten one-day appearances. Their unbroken third wicket alliance realised 121 at six an over after Alistair Brown had driven Ian Jones to straight to cover and Ian Ward looped an easy catch to mid-on off Simon Cook.

Underlining the fact that this was more a team performance than the story of one man, Tim Murtagh and Jason Ratcliffe - both of whom were given their first outings of the season - also starred with the ball. Murtagh’s three for 38 did much to restrict the home side early on. He trapped Alleyne on the back foot, had Strauss caught behind aiming to cut a straight ball and Koenig taken at short mid-wicket off a mistimed pull.

When the light showers turned into rain in the fifteenth over only two boundaries had been struck in the Crusaders’ total of 46 for three. When play resumed the contest, reduced to 42 overs per side, was given some substance by Ed Joyce and Owais Shah’s 55 in seventeen overs.

After Joyce perished at deep mid-wicket in the 27th over - Ratcliffe’s third - Shah rallied the Middlesex tail and a further 105 was added off the last fifteen.

The 23-year-old right-hander - who was once hailed as the new Ramprakash - struck an attractive 74 off 92 balls. Meanwhile, Abdur Razzaq was caught behind shaping to glance Saqlain Mushtaq and James Dalrymple struck a breezy before driving Jason Ratcliffe to mid-off.

The Crusaders’ top scorer was bowled in the penultimate over aiming to sweep Clarke. Laraman then pulled the youngster over backward square leg for six, causing some damage to a parked car, and Cook was out for 21 in 21 balls when he was bowled trying to work a straight delivery square on the off-side.

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