In the words of Irving Berlin, written for the 1933 musical As Thousands Cheer, "we're having a heat wave, a tropical heat wave" but no matter - it's time for cricket.

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Surrey’s gargantuan record total of 820-9 declared ensures that, in effect, they have two days in which to take 19 Durham wickets for victory.

That sounds simple, yet the searing temperature in south London – along with the tendency of the Kookaburra ball to soften and become more predictable – creates a challenge for the champions’ bowling attack.

Off-spinning all-rounders Will Jacks and Dan Lawrence, who sent down the final five overs last night, may have an increasing role to play after both hammered centuries during their side’s run-fest.

Jacks and Lawrence both played supporting roles to opener Dom Sibley, whose career-best 305 made him only the sixth Surrey player to register a triple hundred in Championship cricket.

“With more than 800 on the board we are in a good position and we just need to keep the pressure on them,” said Sibley at the close of play on day two. “It’s going to be hard work but as a team we are looking forward to it.”

Durham captain Alex Lees, on 33, and Will Rhodes, with 16 to his name, will resume their side’s efforts to save the game – faced with the small matter of a 761-run deficit.

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Jake Libby's epic 10-hour marathon career best 228 not out inspired the visitors to 679-7 declared on day two, the third highest total in the club's history and highest away from New Road.

Adam Hose's swashbuckling 266 on Sunday laid the foundation for the monster total and Tom Taylor then helped the Pears nick three wickets early in the reply to leave Hampshire floundering at stumps with 461 runs still needed just to avoid the follow-on.

Libby (pictured) said: "It has been two really hot days but I think I've helped put the team in a really good position. To get those three late wickets there is the cherry on top of a really nice cake.

"We have a long distance ahead of us, but we have put a marker down for what the standard is. If we can do it for a long period then we have a hell of a chance in this game."

Hampshire head coach Adi Birrell admitted: "There is a huge mountain to climb. The positive is that it is quite hard to get wickets, so if we can get our batters in and get a partnership going then it seems to be quite easy to score.

"To spend (160 overs) in the heat and then bat is difficult, but we are professionals and we have to embrace that. There are no excuses. We have to knuckle down and put the pressure back onto them."

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Warwickshire have just about hung in there against Sussex, and finished day two on a high as Aussie spinner Corey Rocchiccioli, who had bowled unchanged for 35 overs, took the new ball for the final over and struck with the last ball of the day to oust compatriot Daniel Hughes (pictured) for a fine 151.

James Coles will resume 56 not out with his side within 137 of the Bears total, and the target of a minimum of four batting points to match their rivals.

With Chris Rushworth limited to just three overs in the reply, it could be another long day for Rocchiccioli, who has 3-94 after claiming a five-for on debut last week.

Hughes, who hit 26 boundaries in his first century of the summer, said: "It was obviously disappointing to get out to the last ball of the day but I was really pleased with how it went.

"When you get in against the Kookaburra ball you have to make the most of it and make yourself hard to get out.

"The pitch is quite slow so we've got some work to do but we've got some good players in the sheds who can hopefully help us push on."

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Yorkshire are banking on experienced duo Adam Lyth and Jonny Bairstow to set them up for a first-innings lead today in their relegation battle against Essex.

Opener Lyth resumes on 65 not out this morning, with White Rose skipper Bairstow at the other end on 14 after three quick wickets for Essex in the final session put the contest back in the balance.

The first two days at Clifton Park have generated a meagre total of just over 500 runs – so the home side, who trail by 225, will need to hit the accelerator at some stage today.

Fin Bean, who shared an opening stand of 81 with Lyth before becoming the first of that trio of dismissals, said: “Adam Lyth’s been brilliant for us all year – you know what you’re getting.

“He’s playing well at the minute, and hopefully he can go big with Jonny Bairstow. It’s about batting big and getting as far ahead as we can, then we’ll see.

“Hopefully it starts to spin more and brings Dom Bess into the game. The seamers will then have to do the hard yards again!”

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Notts seamer Brett Hutton believes spin may well decide the outcome of their Championship game at Taunton.

Somerset's Jack Leach and Archie Vaughan found appreciable turn on day two and the Division One leaders did well to reach the close on 214-3, thanks to Ben Slater's unbeaten century.

"We were okay with the Somerset total, even if we would have liked it to be a bit less. Now, with the way our lads have batted, I think we are in a good place," said Hutton.

“Everyone can see that spin is going to play a big part over the next couple of days and the team who handle it best may well come out on top. If we can get a first innings lead it will be key and the way the lads have set us up now gives us a great chance of achieving it.”

Monday was a near-perfect day for the Red Rose, who have put themselves in position to pick up their first win of the season at the ninth time of asking.

They bowled Derbyshire out in just 67 overs on day two with Jimmy Anderson removing the openers early as the hosts fell to 35-3 and then George Balderson claiming 4-71, with Wayne Madsen (70) and Martin Andersson (79) providing the main resistance as the hosts gave up a first innings lead of 106.

That lead grew to 220 at stumps with Keaton Jennings unbeaten on 51 after his first innings century and Josh Bohannon 30 not out.

Andersson admitted after the close: "It's not easy going but you've got to front up because we batted ourselves into that scenario and we've got to get ourselves out of it."

If Derbyshire want to stay unbeaten in Division Two they will need to strike early and often this morning at Queen's Park, Chesterfield.

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Head coach Darren Lehmann joined in the debate about the wisdom of using a Kookaburra ball in the Championship after his Northants team spent 155 overs in the field against Kent.

"I don’t see the point in using it, but it is what it is," said the Australian, whose side made a good start in reply to Kent's big total, with Ricardo Vasconcelos and Calvin Harrison sharing an unbroken stand of 115.

"The Kookaburra ball is for Australian conditions, wickets are harder and have got some carry. A Dukes ball goes all over the shop in Australia and the game’s finished in two days," he said.

He added: "They’re trying to get ready for an Ashes which is a pretty important thing for England cricket but for me you’ve just got to put up with it and find a way through it.”

"Tuesday is the last day of the heatwave," said BBC Weather forecaster Louise Lear last evening. "The highest temperatures are likely to be across East Anglia and south east England, we could see 33 or 34 degrees Celsius."

Might be a little bit more comfortable for teams and spectators at Taunton, York, Chesterfield, Cardiff and Leicester today then.

Division One

Hampshire 68-3 v Worcestershire 679-7 dec

Hampshire trail by 611 with seven wickets standing

Somerset 379 v Nottinghamshire 214-3

Notts trail by 165 with seven wickets standing

Surrey 820-9 dec v Durham 59-1

Durham trail by 761 with nine wickets standing

Sussex 278-3 v Warwickshire 415

Sussex trail by 137 with seven wickets standing

Yorkshire 143-3 v Essex 368

Yorkshire trail by 225 with seven wickets standing

Division Two

Derbyshire 261 v Lancashire 367 & 114-1

Lancashire lead by 220 with nine wickets standing

Glamorgan 228-4 v Gloucestershire 380

Glamorgan trail by 152 with six wickets standing

Kent 566-8 dec v Northamptonshire 140-1

Northants trail by 426 with nine wickets standing

Leicestershire 103-8 v Middlesex 534

Leicestershire trail by 431 with two wickets standing

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A total of 6,116 runs have been scored over the first two days of the nine ongoing County Championship games.

It's been tough for bowlers in soaring temperatures and although 121 wickets have been taken, the average batting partnership is over 50.

Only one match has reached the third innings, with Lancashire 114-1 and 220 ahead against Derbyshire at Chesterfield, while at The Oval, Durham need to score 671 just to avoid the possibility of following on after Surrey's club-record 820-9 declared.

Welcome to our coverage of day three. Play starts at 11:00.