Graham Thorpe batted himself into fighting trim for next week's First Test against Pakistan with a fluent 148 to give Surrey a first-innings lead in their high-scoring Division One tussle with Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

The England left-hander stroked 21 fours in his 240-ball innings, lasting five hours, and with Alistair Brown (122) also in prime form the reigning champions closed 71 runs ahead on 547-8.

Thorpe and Brown posted 193 for the fourth wicket in only 42 overs together – rattling along at nearly five an over on the warmest day of the year so far – with Thorpe's 39th first-class century a chanceless and highly impressive affair.

He eventually fell to the occasional off-spin of Alec Swann, but Brown pressed on to a fine hundred of his own before Scottish paceman John Blain shattered his stumps just before tea. Brown faced 165 deliveries, cracking two sixes and 15 fours.

In the final session, Adam Hollioake (50), Alec Stewart (32) and Alex Tudor (36) all took advantage of a flagging attack, and it took a spectacular diving catch by Mal Loye at deep mid-wicket to remove Hollioake shortly before the close.

Earlier, opener Ian Ward strengthened his own Test claims with a solid 79. He eventually gave the Northants bowlers their only success of the morning when he edged Jason Brown to wicket-keeper Toby Bailey, who was unquestionably the home side's fielding star with no byes conceded in an innings lasting 147 overs so far.

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