ANTHONY McGrath battled his way to an unbeaten 116 before running out of partners as Yorkshire were dismissed for 235 by Surrey at The Oval today.

McGrath, whose previous highest Championship knock this season was 29, resumed on 69 after having helped Yorkshire recover from 99 for four to 179 for 6 at close of play last night.

He began by playing out a maiden from Saqlain Mushtaq but in the second over of the morning and before a run had been added Richard Dawson hit out at leg-spinner Ian Salisbury and wicketkeeper Alec Stewart held on to a good catch behind the stumps.

Australian-born Andy Gray soon pushed Saqlain into the covers for two to record his first runs in first class cricket but he generally looked ill at ease against the spinners and it was McGrath who did most of the scoring.

McGrath, who had faced 194 balls and struck nine boundaries yesterday, added two more fours to his tally when he whacked a full toss from Salisbury through square leg and then guided an overpitched ball over the rope at mid-wicket.

Gray just kept out a Salisbury yorker, was beaten by a leg-break and then gave a bat-pad catch to Ian Ward at short leg to make Yorkshire 197 for 7 and still seeking their first batting bonus point.

It came when Yorkshire reached 200 on a pitch with considerable turn for both spinners and Simon Guy, in his first game of the season, was still to get off the mark as McGrath moved into the 90s.

The point took Yorkshire's aggregate number of points to 214 which was one more than Surrey finished with last season when they retained the Championship.

Guy then pushed a ball from Saqlain on to his pad and was caught at silly mid-off by Adam Hollioake.

Steven Kirby also remained static while McGrath moved steadily towards three figures and he went to 97 by sweeping Salisbury for two before taking a single off him.

In the next over from Saqlain, McGrath pushed him to mid-wicket and ran two to go to his century off 249 balls with 11 fours.

It was a great effort by McGrath who has now scored seven first class centuries for Yorkshire, the previous one being against Kent at Canterbury in September of last year.

The ninth wicket fell at 234, Kirby's resistance lasting for 49 balls before being lbw to Saqlain for two, and one run later Matthew Hoggard was trapped in front of his stumps by Salisbury, McGrath being stranded on 116 from 272 balls with 11 fours and a six.

- Wakefield businessman Paul Ablett has said that he intends to stand for the committee in the election in West District following the resignation of Philip Akroyd.

Ablett has made several previous attempts to gain a place on the committee but this year he withdrew from the contest after saying he did not wish to oppose Tony Cawdry.

Updated: 16:20 Thursday, September 06, 2001