Surrey batsman Mark Ramprakash confirmed his status as a cricketing legend on Saturday when he became only the 25th man in the history of the game to notch 100 first-class hundreds.

The 38-year-old ex-England star took centre stage on the final day of the drawn County Championship match against Yorkshire.

And Ramprakash, who etched his name into the record books by reaching his ton off 196 balls, described his delight at reaching the landmark at Headingley.

He made his first-class debut against the Tykes in a Championship game for Middlesex way back in 1987, before scoring his first ton against the White Rose at Lord’s in 1989.

The right-hander, who went on to score two hundreds for his country against the West Indies and Australia, also made his Test debut at Leeds in 1991.

“I have always found that when I have played against Yorkshire they have always played it hard but very fair,” he said. “My first ever ball in first-class cricket was from Arnie Sidebottom.

“They were fair today as well, led by Darren Gough. The young guys at Yorkshire were very nice. There are lots of emotions. I got my first 100 here and I remember it very clearly. To get my 100th here seems like fate.”

Yorkshire, who declared overnight on 414 for nine with a first innings lead of 210, made the perfect start.

Tim Bresnan had Stewart Walters caught at second slip by Rich Pyrah with just the seventh ball of the day, leaving the score none for one.

But Ramprakash and opener Scott Newman, who also finished with 129, shared a second-wicket partnership of 259, the highest ever for that wicket against Yorkshire.

Ramprakash, who ended 112 not out, reached three figures when he cracked left-arm spinner David Wainwright through point for four.

Since scoring his 99th century against Sussex at Hove on May 3, he had failed in ten previous attempts to notch three figures, including the first innings in this match.

“The last few games have been a tough run,” he continued. “After scoring the 99th, I broke the bat I’ve been using for the last two years. I’ve used five bats, and I’ve not played that well.”

Wainwright and leg-spinner Adil Rashid both claimed a late wicket apiece, as the White Rose county ended a run of three consecutive defeats with 12 points for the draw.