OLIVER Robinson left both Yorkshire and Durham with red faces yesterday after an astonishing first-class debut for Sussex.

Sacked by Yorkshire last season for “unprofessional actions” the lanky 21-year-old all-rounder hit a run-a-ball century batting at No 9 and shared a record last-wicket stand against Durham at Chester-le-Street.

There was never a dull moment in a bizarre day's cricket as Robinson almost doubled the total in a partnership of 164 with Eastbourne youngster Matt Hobden.

Runs continued to flow when Durham's openers put on 88 inside 16 overs before Robinson completed his outstanding day by having both caught at first slip. Replying to 335, Durham closed on 103 for two.

Robinson was playing only because Tymal Mills (back) has joined Lewis Hatchett and James Anyon on the treatment table.

Sussex's previous highest tenth-wicket stand was 156, between G R Cox and H R Butt at Cambridge University in 1908, while the record last-wicket partnership against Durham was 146 between Glen Chapple and Peter Martin at Old Trafford in 1997.

Born in Margate, Robinson came up through the Kent system before Yorkshire took him on in 2013. He is the stepson of England's assistant coach, Paul Farbrace, who was on Yorkshire's coaching staff at the time.

Since his release last year he has played for Hampshire and Essex seconds before scoring a century last week for Sussex seconds in a friendly against Middlesex.

“I was invited for a trial two weeks ago and was told on Friday I would be playing here,” he said: “I can't believe what's happened. I'm sure I'm not going to have too many days like this.

“I just tried to play nice and straight and keep it simple, but I couldn't have done it without Matt. At first we just wanted to get to 200, then 250 – we had no idea about any record stands. We kept each other going.”

Durham coach Jon Lewis said: “They played very well. Perhaps there was a bit of expectation on our part, thinking we had got the job done and the last wicket would come easily, but once they got in it became tricky for us.

“The game hasn't got away from us. It's a good pitch and we just need some big partnerships.”

Yorkshire's loss has already been Sussex's gain this season in the form of Ajmal Shahzad and they are also taking a look at another player released by the Tykes last year, off-spinner Azeem Rafiq.

Sussex's cricket manager is former Yorkshire seamer Mark Robinson, who is no relation to Oliver and whose batting also bore no relation to his namesake's efforts yesterday.

He was a renowned rabbit, but yesterday's record stand showed just how much the game has moved on in terms of batting depth.