A plucky century by Jason Roy helped Surrey to 299 for seven in reply to Durham's 401 in the Specsavers County Championship match at Chester-le-Street.

In spending 103 balls over his first 50, the England one-day batsman either missed it or middled it. But his second 50 required only 41 balls, with most of his last 20 runs being easy pickings off future teammate Scott Borthwick. He sat back to clobber a short ball from the leg-spinner between mid-off and extra cover to reach three figures with his 14th four.

But after sharing a third-wicket stand of 164 with Zafar Ansari four wickets went down for 24 runs. Ansari went for a very solid 48 when he edged a drive at Keaton Jennings to slip, then Mark Wood struck with his second delivery with the new ball and Graham Onions with his first.

Ben Foakes was lbw when he walked across, looking to turn Wood to leg, and Roy went for 120 when Onions skidded one through to knock him off his feet and claim another lbw verdict. Onions produced another beauty four overs later to claim his fourth wicket, beating Tom Curran's forward push to trim his off bail.

Durham were twice convinced they had Roy caught behind, but his edges tended to be of the thicker variety, one flying wide of gully when looking to turn the impressive Brydon Carse to leg.

He hit Paul Collingwood's first ball just out of short extra cover's reach, and on 42 Onions had him in all kinds of trouble. A ball which Roy played into the ground lobbed up and dropped just over the stumps, then he was beaten twice in the same over.

Onions also took two wickets in four balls shortly after lunch. He beat Dominic Sibley's forward push on 31 to nick the off stump then nipped one back to have Kumar Sangakkara lbw for 48.

In the morning Jennings was left stranded on 201, becoming the seventh player to carry his bat through a Durham innings. Although the fifth batting was achieved when last man Onions scored the day's first seven runs, he then drove a catch to cover to give Mark Footitt his fifth wicket.

The only Surrey batsman to fall before lunch was Rory Burns, who was given an uncomfortable time by Wood and fell for 15 when an in-swinger took the left-hander's inside edge on the way to wicketkeeper Stuart Poynter.

Faced with an attack of Wood, Onions, Ben Stokes and the pacy Carse, Sibley played well enough to suggest he won't be the one making way for Mark Stoneman, or Borthwick.

Carse, back after a three-month injury absence, posed the greatest threat. He beat Sangakkara twice in his first two overs and remained out of luck as he and Stokes emerged wicketless.

Jason Roy said: "People have said the timing is good, but England has not been on my mind. I'm just doing a job for Surrey and if a Test call comes that would be incredible.

"I was really pleased with the partnership with Zafar. We ran well and tried to put them under pressure by rotating the strike between right and left-hander.

"Durham bowled incredibly well and I just wanted to occupy the crease and watch the ball. When a bowler like Graham Onions gets settled it's very difficult.

"It was good fun batting against him but I couldn't do much about the ball which got me out."

TEA REPORT

Jason Roy and Zafar Ansari frustrated Durham after Graham Onions took two wickets in four balls shortly after lunch.

After an unbroken stand of 76 Surrey were 176 for three at tea in reply to 401 with Roy leading something of a charmed life to reach 48.

On 18 he edged Brydon Carse just wide of gully when looking to play to leg, then he hit Paul Collingwood's first ball just out of short extra cover's reach, and on 42 Onions had him in all kinds of trouble.

He went within a gnat's whisker of playing on before being beaten twice in the same over.

Ansari concentrated on survival in reaching 26, his one stroke of luck coming on ten. Collingwood posted his second slip well wide of first and the edge bisected them at waist height.

Onions beat Dominic Sibley's forward push on 31 to nick the off stump then nipped one back to have Kumar Sangakkara lbw for 48.

LUNCH REPORT

Keaton Jennings became the seventh batsman to carry his bat for Durham when he was left stranded on 201 on a glorious morning at Chester-le-Street.

The seven runs needed for the fifth batting point were all scored by Graham Onions, including four off the edge. But after Jennings added one run Onions tamely drove a catch to cover to give Mark Footitt his fifth wicket.

Durham were all out for 401 and Surrey reached 75 for one at lunch, Rory Burns the man out for 15.

He was given an uncomfortable time by Mark Wood, achieving steep bounce with his shorter deliveries. But it was a full-lenth in-swinger which took the left-hander's inside edge on the way to wicketkeeper Stuart Poynter.

Faced with an attack of Wood, Graham Onions, Ben Stokes and the pacy Brydon Carse, Dominic Sibley played well enough to suggest he won't be the one making way for Mark Stoneman, or Scott Borthwick.

Carse, back after a three-month injury absence, posed the greatest threat. He beat Kumar Sangakkara twice in his first two overs then had a big appeal for caught behind turned down with Sibley on 25.

Sangakkara cut Stokes's first ball for four on his way to 30 at lunch, when Sibley still on 25.

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