Smith gives Durham control

Will Smith scored a double century as Durham dominated Surrey's attack

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Durham number three Will Smith scored an exceptional unbeaten double-century as his side took control of the LV County Championship Division One match against Surrey on a rain-interrupted day at Guildford.

The away side look all set to secure a victory tomorrow, barring rain, as the home side finished the day five runs behind in their second innings, on 185 for three.

After two short breaks for rain earlier in the day, stumps were called as more rain came when the extra half hour was being used to make up lost overs.

Smith started the day on 126 and reached his 150 in the 15th over of the morning.

He was dropped at second slip by Jimmy Ormond from Jade Dernbach when on 166, and took full advantage as his 201 not out, which included 22 fours from 396 balls, saw Durham past the 400 mark.

Smith’s innings helped the visitors to a 190-run first innings lead, and Surrey started brightly in their second, with Scott Newman making some quick early runs.

Newman quickly added to yesterday’s hundred by racing to his 50, passing it with a six and a four from Liam Plunkett, who went for 21 runs in his first over.

However, after tea, Paul Wiseman claimed the wicket of Newman for 67, ending a 96-run opening partnership, and sparking two more quick wickets.

Stewart Walters went to Thorp for 33, caught by Steve Harmison - and the former England bowler claimed the wicket of Chris Murtagh (12) with a bouncing ball catching an outside edge and flying to Callum Thorp at third slip.

Jonathan Batty and Usman Afzaal steadied the ship with an unbeaten fourth wicket stand of 59 runs to end the day.

However, Surrey will have their work cut out tomorrow to save the match, with the fourth wicket looking extremely important for both teams’ chances.

Durham had resumed the day on 259 for five, and Phil Mustard was the first casualty, caught behind for 62 trying to cut a delivery from Ormond having failed to add to his overnight score.

Wiseman then pulled Chris Jordan for two big sixes before he was out for 34, caught by Chris Murtagh at deep square leg from Dernbach.

Liam Plunkett (28) and Thorp (six) were both undone by Surrey’s Murtaza Hussain, the Pakistani catching Plunkett then bowling Thorp.

That left Durham on 396 for nine, and it was left to Smith and Harmison to take them to 410, before the latter was out for just two - leaving his partner to carry his bat from number three.