MARK Ramprakash hit his fifth century in four Frizzell County Championship matches as Surrey took command against against Division One relegation rivals Lancashire at Whitgift School.

The former England batsman's 134 took him past Rob Key and Ian Bell as the leading first-class run-scorer in the country, with 1,498.

Rikki Clarke, Alistair Brown and Tim Murtagh also hit half-centuries as Surrey piled up 525 in their first innings for a lead of 315.

Lancashire then made the worst possible start to their second innings as Martin Bicknell had Mark Chilton caught at short-leg off the first ball.

James Ormond then fired out Iain Sutcliffe and Dinesh Mongia to leave the visitors reeling on 57-3, still needing another 258 to avoid an innings defeat.

Sutcliffe drove a catch to cover after hitting a quick 17 including a six off Bicknell, and Mongia edged to Clarke at first slip as Lancashire's nightmare performance continued.

Ramprakash shared a stand of 124 for the third wicket with Clarke, who stroked 64 from 100 balls until he was given out lbw off Dominic Cork.

Sajid Mahmood had Surrey captain Jon Batty caught at third man, and Lancashire then boosted their hopes of restricting the first-innings deficit when Gary Keedy had Ramprakash caught at short extra-cover after facing 246 balls and hitting 16 fours.

But those hopes were shattered as Surrey plundered another 195 runs for their last five wickets.

Brown's 50 came off 63 balls with nine fours, and Bicknell (41) and Azhar Mahmood (30) both added further punishment to the flagging Lancashire attack.

But the real fireworks came from Murtagh who launched five sixes in his 56. He was last out for the home side after a last-wicket stand of 61 in only seven overs with Nayan Doshi.

It will take a massive effort from the remaining batsmen to see the game into a fourth day, let alone stave of a defeat that would see the team fall even further into the relegation zone.

Other results don't seem to going the Lancashire's ways other teams in trouble are forging good positions

They just don't look like a First Division side on current form. Despite all the talk of the squads' strength and players being too good to go down it is becoming a real possibility.

Left with 16 overs to bat before the close the Red Rose top order was blown away for the second time in the match. Mark Chilton went without a run on the board, soon followed by Iain Sutcliffe and Dinesh Mongia who both completed poor matches.

Skipper Carl Hooper managed to see the side through to the close with wicketkeeper Jamie Haynes but they are still a massive 258 runs behind.

Earlier Mark Ramprakash (134) had shown the Lancashire batsmen what was possible on a very good pitch, advancing to his fifth century in seven innings with a lofted straight drive off Kyle Hogg.

It was a surprise when he drove a simple catch to Hooper at short cover from the preserving Gary Keedy.

But the bowlers only managed the occasional breakthrough and each time a new partnership would develop. Dominic Cork, Glen Chapple and Sajid Mahmood preserved but couldn't extract the life from the pitch found by the Surrey attack.

Tim Murtagh's rapid 56 at number 10 was the final embarrassment for Lancashire as seven bowlers were used to try and wrap up the innings.