Surrey v Durham: Visitors take charge despite Batty haul

Surrey's Gareth Batty took four wickets but could not stop Durham surpassing his side's first innings total.

Resuming on 48-0, opener Mark Stoneman led the Durham charge, making 77 runs before being caught by Rory Burns off ex-England spinner Batty.

Dale Benkenstein (70no) steadied the visitors, helping them move past Surrey's score of 237.

But Batty (4-73), aided by Zander de Bruyn (3-28), ensured the damage was minimal at stumps on 279-9.

Durham, who have never won a Championship match at The Oval since gaining first-class status in 1992, made steady progress with openers Stoneman and Will Smith, posting 88 before the latter fell to Batty's seventh ball of the day lbw.

And despite Stoneman falling to the impressive Batty after making a 53-ball half century to leave Durham 131-3, that brought Benkenstein to the crease, who frustrated the home bowlers.

The South African kept his head while others fell around him, including Paul Collingwood, who went to De Bruyn for a measly four runs.

And by the end of the day, he was still batting alongside debutant Ryan Buckley - who ended Surrey's first innings with superb figures of 5-86 - as the last-wicket partnership, 42 runs ahead.

VIEW FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX

BBC Radio Surrey's Mark Church:

"Durham lead by 42 at the end of the second day but Surrey will still feel they are very much in this game.

"Mark Stoneman made 77 but it was Dale Benkenstein with 70 not out who made the vital contribution for the visitors.

"Surrey captain Gareth Batty led his attack with 4-73 and Zander de Bruyn picked up three wickets but Benkenstein was still there at the end of the day.

"Durham will fancy their chances and Surrey will fancy theirs in this game. It will be an intriguing couple of days."