Dom Sibley’s titanic triple century powered Surrey to a club-record 820 for nine as Durham felt the warmth with the Kookaburra ball within the Rothesay County Championship.
Resuming on 169, Sibley, who made the last of his 22 Test appearances for England 4 years ago, made a career-best 305, with the opener thumping 29 fours and two sixes in a marathon 475-ball innings that ended with Surrey on 745.
After Sam Curran’s 108 on Sunday, Dan Lawrence made it to 3 figures with 178 off 149 balls, while Will Jacks also had licence to tee off and he thumped 119 off 94 deliveries on the Kia Oval.
Durham didn’t even get the consolation of bowling Surrey out as Rory Burns declared after Jacks was out but not before his side had eclipsed their highest-ever total of 811, which was set in 1899.
Will Rhodes was the pick of the attack with three for 131, while Matthew Potts, Daniel Hogg and George Drissell also conceded 100-plus runs, the latter claiming figures of 45-1-247-1 in stifling conditions.
Durham need 671 simply to avoid the follow-on against the reigning county champions they usually ended day two on 59 for one, with Matthew Fisher bowling Emilio Gay within the fourth over of the reply.
For exclusive stories and all of the detailed cricket news you would like, subscribe to The Cricket Paper website, digital edition, or newspaper from as little as 14p a day.
Worcestershire vs Hampshire
Elsewhere in Division One, Worcestershire captain Jake Libby made 228 not out a day after Adam Hose’s explosive 266 as Worcestershire racked up 679 for seven against Hampshire on the Utilita Bowl.
Gareth Roderick also made 80 as Hampshire’s bowlers wilted before the hosts closed on 68 for 3, with Tom Taylor claiming leg-before verdicts against Fletcha Middleton and Nick Gubbins.
Other Fixtures
Ben Slater underpinned Nottinghamshire’s 214 for 3 with 116 not out – his first century of 2025 – in response to Somerset’s 379 at Taunton, with Tom Banton‘s 84 the highest rating for the house side.
Essex slipped from 273 for 3 to 368 all out against Yorkshire, who went to stumps on 143 for 3 at York because of opener Adam Lyth’s stoic unbeaten 65 from 172 balls.
Daniel Hughes’ 151 helped Sussex to 278 for 3 after Warwickshire were all out for 415 at Hove.
In Division Two, England’s record Test wicket-taker and Lancashire captain James Anderson collected two for 45 as Derbyshire were all out for 261 after the Red Rose had made 367 at Chesterfield.
Anderson struck in his second and third overs, snaring Mitchell Wagstaff lbw after which bowling fellow opener Caleb Jewell, while George Balderson was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 71.
First-innings centurion Keaton Jennings made 51 not out in Lancashire reaching 114 for one and an overnight lead of 220.
Naavya Sharma claimed 4 for twenty-four as leaders Leicestershire lurched to 103 for eight after Ben Geddes’ 137 had lifted Middlesex to 534 at Grace Road.
Daniel Bell-Drummond made 158 and Harry Finch underscored Kent’s 566 for eight declared before Northamptonshire reached 140 for one, with Ricardo Vasconcelos unbeaten on 87.
James Bracey’s 133 ushered Gloucestershire to 380 against Glamorgan, who replied with 228 for 4 as Colin Ingram (52 not out) and Ben Kellaway (55no) placed on an unbroken 107 at Sophia Gardens.
READ MORE: The state of play because the Vitality Blast take a break