Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

It hasn't rained but it's poured for Durham spinner George Drissell today.

Surrey declared on 820-9. Drissell certainly took one for the team.

His figures of 1-247 are the most expensive in County Championship history. It beats Claude Henderson's 3-235, for Leicestershire here against Surrey in 2006.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

Surrey made it to 814-8 with a six from Will Jacks, making it their highest score in first-class cricket, beating their 811 against Somerset in 1899. I wasn't at that one.

It is also the highest total against Durham, beating Warwickshire's 810-4 declared in 1994.

Jacks was caught out moments later for 119 and Surrey then decided to declare after 127 overs.

Mentally, Durham must be on the floor. They have to find the fighting spirit not to get totally destroyed here. They have their work cut out. There are 28 overs left in the heat of day two at The Oval.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

I have looked through a long list of highest scores in the history of the County Championship.

This Surrey total is the highest score by a team who lost the toss and were put in. Just let that sink in!

I am told the side winning the toss has decided to bowl in something like 20 games in a row here. But this time that decision by Alex Lees has certainly put the matter in the spotlight.

Navtej Singh is given a suspended prison sentence for seriously injuring a woman in a crash.

Northumbria Police says it is treating the death of the man in his 60s as unexplained.

The government says it is spending £740m on school places for those with special educational needs.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

This stopped being a contest sometime yesterday.

Surrey have now passed 700 and have the second highest score against Durham. The highest is Warwickshire's 810-4 declared in 1994 when Brian Lara made 501 not out.

Dom Sibley has just become the fourth player to score 300 against Durham. Graeme Hick made 315 for Worcestershire in 2002 and Darren Lehmann 339 for Yorkshire in 2006.

It's been a monumental effort in this heat, but I will happily never see a Kookaburra ball game again on the basis of this one. Sadly there are still another two rounds of games to go with it.

Sibley now has Robert Abel's Surrey record of 357* in his sights. That was against Somerset in 1899.

My colleague Mark Church thinks they will declare at tea. Churchy also says Durham "are being slowly cooked" by Surrey. He's not wrong. But why they are still out there, I have no idea.

Peter Lamb is jailed after being caught smuggling his haul into the UK by hiding it in fake grass.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

Dom Sibley has reached 200. He was nearly run out getting there as well.

His next target is 245 and a career-best score. His highest total to date is 244 in a draw against Kent in 2019.

Sibley's also added 209 with Dan Lawrence, who has 102.

Surrey's highest fourth wicket stand against Durham is 222, by Darren Bicknell and Ali Brown, in Darlington, in 1994. Expect all records to be broken today.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

Dom Sibley has moved onto 180 this morning and that is the highest score by a Surrey player against Durham.

It beats Mark Butcher's 169 in an innings win here in 1995. Surrey's highest total against Durham came that day too, when they made 652-9d. That will be broken today!

It's already very hot in London and Durham are a man down after Ben Raine suffered a foot injury yesterday. I really fear for Durham today because this looks like it is going to be a chastening experience.

The atmosphere is great though because there are 7,000 school children in the ground. But they are also in the danger zone. Dan Lawrence has just landed a six right in the middle of them.

Former Middlesbrough forward Alan Peacock, seventh in the club's list of all-time goalscorers, has died at the age of 87.

The teenager disappeared while playing in the Tees on Thursday, with his body found the next day.

Nine-year-old Flash is trying to find a new home, but nobody turned up to his open day.

Students at Newcastle University affected by strikes are receiving up to £600 in compensation.

Dom Sibley and Sam Curran score centuries as Surrey reach 407-3 on the opening day of their home Championship game against Durham.

People will be able to watch six street artists create eight large artworks in North Shields.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

Image source, Rex Features

Sam Curran has notched his second century in first-class cricket. His best is 126 in a draw against Kent in 2022.

He's played some lovely shots today, but generally it's been straightforward for him - as it is for most batsmen against the Kookaburra ball.

Yet again it has offered absolutely nothing for the bowlers. As a project and an experiment, it's desperate. It is not a contest when things are as one-sided as this around the country.

The century included 13 fours and a six. He's also put on 156 with Dom Sibley, who has 94. The new ball is due in seven overs but I doubt it will make any difference.

Durham have also had bowler Ben Raine off the field most of the afternon. He seemed to be having trouble with his foot earlier.

Stories include dead animals and vandalism in a park, and an investigation into a major power cut.