Mark Ramprakash maintained the theme of domination by the batsmen at the Brit Oval with an unbeaten 174 for Surrey in their LV County Championship Division Two match against Leicestershire.

Ramprakash's fourth hundred of the season and 107th of his career helped Surrey to 311 for two at the close, 282 behind Leicestershire's imposing total of 593 for five declared.

The 271-ball innings was not one of Ramprakash's more fluent or eye-catching efforts, but he still hit 27 fours and a hooked six off left-arm paceman Harry Gurney to become the season's leading run-scorer in Division Two.

Stewart Walters, the Surrey captain, made 84 not out off 213 balls to help Ramprakash add an unbroken 236 in 69 overs for the third wicket.

And only creative discussions between Walters and his opposite number, Boeta Dippenaar, can now prevent the game drifting to a tame draw on the final day.

Leicestershire could not have hoped for a better start to the day, with Andrew Harris finding late out-swing to bowl Jonathan Batty with the fifth ball of the Surrey innings, but there was a familiar pattern to Ramprakash's innings.

He settled in quietly and was outscored by Michael Brown, his second-wicket partner in a stand of 75 in 26 overs.

Brown hit nine fours in an innings of 46 before being caught at slip via the back of his bat as he tried to sweep slow left-armer Claude Henderson.

Ramprakash reached a 92-ball fifty soon after lunch and Leicestershire missed their one chance to claim his wicket when, on 84, he sliced a drive low to James Taylor at point off Harris.

A swept single off Henderson, who toiled manfully through 36 overs, took Ramprakash to his century off 166 balls and by tea Walters had reached a patient 120-ball fifty.

He was becalmed as the Surrey pair managed just nine runs in the first 10 overs of the final session, but the bat was rarely beaten.

The most encouraging aspect of the day for Leicestershire was the performance of 18-year-old seamer Nathan Buck, who was making his championship debut.

He did not take a wicket, but bowled a lively opening spell, in which he troubled Ramprakash, and also showed good rhythm and control in his later spells.

Surrey could be without pace bowler Andre Nel for the rest of the season. The South African has aggravated an elbow injury and will require surgery to repair a ruptured ligament.