IT must be symptomatic of cricket's modern era when a 19-year-old batsman in his seventh county championship game drives the last ball before tea for six.

It was the second time in reaching 20 that Jack Burnham had cleared the rope – the first a huge straight blow which sent a Surrey member scampering from his seat.

Burnham wants to play in Durham's one-day side and, having learnt Twenty20 tricks as part of his upbringing, the old conventions like blocking the last over before a break do not apply.

The last ball from left-arm spinner Zafar Ansari was there to be hit, so it was duly clubbed over long-on.

Sadly, Burnham was able to add only one run after tea before the expected rain arrived, lopping 27 overs off a match which can ill afford any lost time.

Durham reached 156 for two in reply to 457 and with Ben Stokes to come it was not inconceivable that a big enough lead could be gained quickly enough to put Surrey under pressure.

There was further evidence of the modern ways when Keaton Jennings unveiled two perfectly-executed reverse lap/sweeps off Ansari.

He also played the orthodox version off both Ansari and off-spinner Gareth Batty with such success that he tried it once too often and was bowled for 53.

Another century beckoned for a player who has suddenly blossomed and Jennings departed with an angry swish of the bat, having shared an opening stand of 114 with Mark Stoneman in which both looked supremely comfortable.

In contrast to previous struggles at the top of the order, this was the third time in four innings that they had passed 70.

Batty had been slow to introduce spin, waiting until 85 were on the board after 21 overs before Ansari's first ball was driven to deep cover by Stoneman to bring up his 50 off 59 balls.

But after Jennings departed the next over revealed that umpire Billy Taylor does give lbws after all. He turned down several very good shouts by Durham, but Stoneman, propping forward, was beaten by slight turn from Batty and given out for 57.

A question over his ability against spin will have gone into the notebook of watching selector James Whitaker, who was at the Oval partly to speak to Peter Such, who is responsible for developing England spinners.

The early season signs are that the new toss rule is leading to pitches starting drier, which should bring spin more into play, and it will certainly feature strongly in the rest of this match.

Ascot-born Ansari, 24, is very much in England's thoughts after being selected for the winter series against Pakistan, only to break a thumb.

Burnham, however, saw no reason to respect him and had made only five when he launched his first six. It spoke volumes for his confidence.

On an overcast morning Durham needed 100 minutes to take the three remaining Surrey wickets.

Either Durham were determined to get their pennyworth out of Stokes in his last appearance for them for a while, or they simply couldn't get the ball off him.

He bowled unchanged, steaming in for 11.4 overs to take the last two wickets and finish with four for 117 to go with his four for 80 against Middlesex.

Graham Onions didn't bowl and Chris Rushworth was removed after two overs, having conceded 12 in the first to Ben Foakes.

Four were off the edge and it was by no means the morning's only boundary to the vacant third man area.

Foakes dominated the stand of 43 with Batty before he became the fifth batsman to self-destruct when he chased a wide one from Brydon Carse and edged to Michael Richardson for 38.

After posting himself halfway back at mid-wicket, Paul Collingwood was unable to cling on to a fierce pull off Carse with Batty on 19.

The captain returned to slip for South African debutant Mat Pillans, who looked as though he could handle a bat, guiding Stokes over the slips to that unpatrolled third man boundary.

He made 15 before playing back and edging Stokes low to Borthwick at second slip.

With last man Matthew Dunn for company, Batty had a few lusty swipes while trying to farm the strike. He hooked Stokes for six over the short boundary in front of the gas holder to bring up the 450.

But when he stepped back in an attempt to swish through the off side he was bowled for 40.

Had Durham restricted Surrey to 400 and not lost those 27 overs they could have been handily placed. Now they will face a trial by spin today, which will determine the outcome.