UNDER 19 World Cup centuries against Fiji, Zimbabwe and Namibia were mere appetisers for Jack Burnham, whose hunger for runs saw him feast at the top table yesterday.

His 135 against Surrey at the Oval helped Durham to maximum batting points, something they never achieved last season, and they closed the third day on 543 for seven, leading by 86.

For the first time in Durham's history six of the top seven passed 50, only Ben Stokes missing out with 12.

The shot which took Paul Collingwood to his half-century also saw him pass 15,000 first-class runs. He was unbeaten on 75 at the close.

Although the pitch shows little sign of wear, Durham have an outside chance of putting Surrey under pressure on the final day if the spinners can exploit the shaven ends.

They are unlikely to do it as effectively as deadly Derek Underwood, however. There is a huge picture opposite the entrance to the Oval media centre of him bowling England to an Ashes win in a sea of sawdust in 1968.

All the fielders are round the bat and among the short legs is Colin Milburn, the Burnopfield Basher.

While Burnham is tall and lean as opposed to short and sturdy, he is also a bit of a basher and there are inevitable comparisons along the lines of “Durham pit village boy makes good.”

The Esh Winning product is Durham's fourth teenage century-maker following Nicky Peng, Gordon Muchall and Stokes.

Those who remember Peng's 98 on debut against Surrey on a tricky Riverside pitch might warn against expecting too much too soon. But he was the son of a millionaire and played like one; Burnham is hewn from more humble stock.

There was something about the way he dug in again after completing his 166-ball century that suggests much more to come.

Playing only his eighth first-class game, he enjoyed some luck but showed remarkable composure and shot selection for one who was 19 in January.

He didn't add to the two sixes in his overnight 21, but had the confidence to loft Gareth Batty for two fours in his first over when the Surrey skipper belatedly brought himself on.

In an otherwise nerveless display Burnham had two slight scares. On 29 he shaped to hook Tom Curran and the ball lobbed off his glove into space on the off side. Then on 95 he advanced and got into a bit of a tangle trying to hit Zafar Ansari over mid-wicket. Fortunately, his pads got in the way to prevent a stumping chance.

He settled for getting there in singles and joyously punched the air as he scampered the off-side run off Batty which took him to the cherished landmark.

Burnham and Scott Borthwick, who made 77, took their stand to 145 on a sunny morning. It was expected to be a trial by spin, but although Ansari bowled for the first hour it was a further 30 minutes before Batty brought himself on.

Ansari posed a few problems and might have had Borthwick stumped on 28 had Ben Foakes not fumbled the chance.

Borthwick drove Matthew Dunn through extra cover for his seventh four to reach 50 off 110 balls then skied a hook over long leg for six off Mat Pillans.

Burnham was also not in full control of a hook off the South African paceman, which flew to fine leg for the four which took him to 50 off 84 balls. His second 50 came off 82.

Hopes that Stokes would light up the afternoon proved shortlived as his checked drive in the second over after the break gave a return catch to Ansari.

Burnham was into three figures by the time the new ball was taken and he was beaten three times in two overs by Dunn. But he remained totally unflappable and twice middled pulls off Tom Curran to the boundary.

In going for something similar, however, he got underneath it and skied a catch to deep backward square to end his 215-ball innings.

Michael Richardson continued his good form by making 68 before inside-edging to the keeper to end a stand of 96 with Collingwood.

The captain lifted Ansari for six over long-on and Ryan Pringle muscled Dunn over the rope at mid-wicket and also drove both spinners for six on his way to 37.

He punched a back-foot return catch to Curran six overs from the close, and there was a worrying incident for Surrey, and possibly England, in the next over.

After missing the winter series against Pakistan with a broken thumb, Ansari had to depart with a damaged hand after fielding a return drive from Brydon Carse.

It seems unlikely that Durham can win on this pitch, but a year ago they were reminded at Lord's that it's a funny old game. They dismissed Middlesex for 89 in their second innings then crumbled for 71.