LONDON, July 6: Pakistan batting

star Salim Malik

dominated an Es

sex record fourth

wicket stand of

314 with England hopeful Nasser Hussain on Friday to put Essex In control of their championship match with Surrey at the Oval, reports AFP.

The pair came together with second-placed Essex tottering at nine for three after Martin Bicknell had snapped up all three wickets for four runs in 17 balls.

But that was Surrey s last taste of success until Hussian was removed at the end of a partnership which shattered Essex' s 43-year-old record for the fourth wicket.

Hussain cracked 128 in a minute under five hours, facing 243 balls and hitting 17 boundaries, but Malik stole the show with a magnificent unbeaten 185 off 295 balls with 23 fours in five and a half

Essex declared at 338 for five and Nell Foster removed

Surrey opener Darren Bicknell* before the close.

There were also centuries for Hampshire batsmen Kevan James and Chris Smith as Yorkshire's bowlers were flayed for 417 for seven at

James was 134 not out at the close and Smith made 1 12. his fifth century of the season, hammering five sixes and 12 fours.

Yorkshire had a brief revival when Peter Hartley removed three batsmen, including David Gower (49) In six balls, but James put Hampshire back In charge as he shared century partnerships with Adrian Aymes and Raj Maru.

Northamptonshire were also well on top at Leicester after reaching 300 for seven declared before reducing Leicestershire to 19 for four

Opener Alan Fordham's 1 16 laid the foundation for the Northants total and he shared In a fourth wicket stand of 146 with Zimbabawean all-rounder Kevin Curran (67). *

The Paul Taylor and Gerg

Thomas grabbed two wickets apiece as the first three Leicester batsmen departed without scoring.

Another opener to reach three figures was Kent's Trevor Ward, who blasted an excellent 110 off 145 balls and put on 184 with Nell Taylor