Surrey's Jonathan Batty believes skipper Mark Butcher's men are still in the race for the Liverpool Victoria County Championship title, despite sitting bottom of the table.

The 34-year-old wicketkeeper struck his first four-day century of the summer with an unbeaten 136 in last week's disappointing defeat to Kent.

The Brown Caps endured a miserable Twenty20 campaign and now see themselves 29 points adrift of championship leaders Nottinghamshire, who they face on Friday.

Clapham-based Batty reckons Surrey can still launch a title challenge, but concedes they must start winning soon if they are to avoid being dragged into a relegation scrap come the end of the campaign.

"It is not panic stations yet but there is no doubt we have to start winning cricket matches," he said.

"The division is still wide open. I believe we are still in two competitions - the championship and the Pro 40 - and the championship is still the priority.

"It is a case of getting two or three wins on the bounce and we are comfortably in mid-table. Two more and we are right up there, it is that close."

Stand-in skipper Mark Ramprakash is still searching for his first championship win as Butcher recovers from knee surgery.

He is one short of his 100th first-class century - having scored two early in the season - and has struggled with the bat by comparison to his free-scoring form of the last two summers.

But Batty, who himself has struggled for runs this season, has backed the 38-year-old to rediscover his midas touch at the crease.

"As far as I am concerned it is only a matter of time before Mark gets past the milestone," he added.

"He has always been one to build an innings and unfortunately he has not been able to go on to big scores once he has made a start.

"He is Mr.Consistent and that is what we've become used to. He has two hundreds already this year so he isn't having a bad season.

"Once he gets past 100 I think the flood gates will open and you could easily see him with 110 centuries by the end of the season."