If Lewis, who took two Kent wickets the day before, continues his current vein of form, there is no question that his international career will be resurrected. He was positively messianic at the crease yesterday as he and Surrey's other all-round acquisition, Brendon Julian, coped with dodgy light and awkward Kent bowling.Surrey were looking none too steady when the pair came together with six wickets down and 19 runs adrift of the Kent first innings.But by the time Kent's pacey practitioner, Julian Thompson, was walking off to deserved applause at the close of play, having returned a career- best 5 for 72, Lewis and Julian had done their stuff.They added 89 for the seventh wicket before Lewis was caught - at the third attempt by Martin McCague off Carl Hoo- per's off-spin - having made a high-class 61 in just over an hour and a half, with a six and half a dozen fours included in the 92 balls he faced.In that time, Lewis had mastered Kent's own beefy Big Mac McCague, who exploited the bouncy wicket to the full in 28 overs that were worthy of a lot more than the two wickets he ended up with.Julian looks a great signing for the county. Replying to Yorkshire's 561, his side lost two quick wickets to Chris Silverwood but the Australian hit an unbeaten 52 as Derbyshire reached 128 for 3.. The visitors' lead, with just one wicket remaining, is only 127.Derbyshire's new captain, Dean Jones, helped steady his side at Sheffield. There is no need to mention peanuts and monkeys.Counties no longer want nor need matches against touring sides. Tourists need practice between international matches, as well as shorter tours and fewer fixtures for less wear and tear on the players. MCC, Minor Counties and British Universities would provide more challenging games.Moody, the Worcestershire captain, did not bother to bat as his team, 91 ahead overnight, added 36 runs in 35 minutes, Steven Rhodes completing a half-century to boost his benefit season.Ajay Jadeja and Vikrant Rathore, India's experimental openers, then took the opportunity of assembling a stand of 146 against the county's journeymen seamers, Paul Thomas and Almagir Sheriyar.The faithful Stuart Lampitt eventually broke through by persuading Rathore, voted man of the match for his 165 and 72 in his first tour game, to pull to deep square leg.. Round-up Graham Gooch accumulated more records yesterday, some more significant than others.

When four short of his century against Hampshire, the 121st of his career and his fifth in his last six innings against Hampshire, he became the 12th highest scorer in cricket history, overtaking Colin Cowdrey's 42,719. After the home side batted on to reach 539, Essex reached 209 for 2 at the close with Gooch unbeaten on 121.Somerset's Graham Rose followed up his six wickets in the first innings against Nottinghamshire with six more in the second innings at Taunton. Had Worcestershire won, Tetley's would have added pounds 7,500 to their players' pool, about half of Stan Collymore's reputed weekly wage. Various sponsors have attemp- ted to spice up the competition by offering money prizes. The Indians made little complaint, but hinted that they were disappointed. Houghton responded: "We've lost four competitive matches and needed to get into nick My job is to win competitive matches This is a practice match.