DURHAM were in danger of turning a stroll into a scramble when they slipped from 107 for one to 126 for four. But Paul Collingwood and Ben Stokes have steadied the ship and they are 149 for four at tea, needing a further 32 to win.

Mark Stoneman and Scott Borthwick shared Durham’s record second-wicket stand against Surrey of 100 before Borthwick was lbw on the back foot to Gareth Batty for 42.

With Gary Keedy’s left-arm spin posing no threat, Surrey had looked resigned to defeat. But they turned to the seamers and found a way back into the game.

After bowling poorly in the first innings, Stuart Meaker was ignored until the 33rd over, but with his fifth ball he splattered the stumps with Stoneman appearing to be beaten for pace after his second excellent innings.

He had already made the game’s top score of 77 and his cutting, especially against Batty, was superb as he reached 67.

His exit made it 126 for three and without addition Dale Benkenstein scooped the first ball of Tim Linley’s second spell to mid-off. Either the ball stuck in the pitch or hit one of the cracks Durham had been wary of.