Stoneman presses England case with 131

Mark Stoneman boosted his chances of retaining his place as England opener for this winter’s Ashes series with an assured 131 for Surrey against a toiling Yorkshire in their Division One clash at The Oval.

Stoneman failed to make a compelling case for keeping hold of his spot alongside Alastair Cook against the West Indies but did so yesterday with 22 fours in a superb 171-ball innings after Surrey had opted to bat first.

“It was a great day,” Stoneman told BBC Radio London. “The first partnership between me and Rory [Burns] really set us up nicely and the way we finished with two lads set at the crease means it’s been a really positive day.

“Playing for England was absolutely amazing, what you always dream of, so to get a taste of it was fantastic and it leaves you always wanting more.

“I’ve just got to try and score as many runs as I can for Surrey then hopefully things go my way when selection [for the Ashes] comes around.”

There were also significant returns for Burns (75), Kumar Sangakkara (85no) and Ben Foakes (64no) as Surrey racked up an imposing 398 for three in their first match back at their south-london home since a crossbow bolt which landed on the field of play led to the abandonment of last month’s encounter with Middlesex in the final session.

The opening day of Middlesex’s contest with Hampshire was wiped out by unfit playing conditions at Uxbridge.

Heavy rain yesterday evening ran down the slope at the Park Road sports complex and crept under the covers and sheets leaving umpires Graham Lloyd and Russell Evans with little option but to call things off after their second inspection at 11am.

In Division Two, promotion-chasing

Worcestershire were held up by Neil Dexter’s unbeaten 102 as Leicestershire amassed 325 for seven at New Road. Captain Mark Cosgrove also frustrated the Pears with a fine 74.

Derbyshire captain Billy Godleman and opener Luis Reece made joint top scores of 51 to help their side to 338 for nine against Sussex at Hove.

Richard Gleeson’s five for 60 helped restrict

Glamorgan to 207 all out before Northamptonshire closed on 59 for two in Cardiff while Cameron Bancroft’s 124no carried

Gloucestershire to 242 for five against Kent in Bristol.