Ben Stokes finally came to the party for Durham, ending their relegation worries by taking four Surrey wickets in a gripping finish at Chester-le-Street. After scoring 24 and nought, and remaining wicketless until the final session, Stokes took four for 54 as Surrey were dismissed for 259 to lose by 21 runs.

Jason Roy fell four short of his second century of the match, but Surrey were kept in the hunt by a fearless unbeaten 50 from 18-year-old Sam Curran to go with his seven for 58 in Durham's second innings.

Surrey could have slight concerns over Roy and Zafar Ansari ahead of Saturday's Royal London Cup final after both needed treatment for hand injuries. Following their first innings stand of 164 the pair put on 143 after coming together at 11 for three in pursuit of 281.

After the persistent murk of the previous day, play again began with the floodlights on, but the sun was starting to emerge as Roy went to the crease and batting became more comfortable after lunch.

On nine Durham were convinced Roy had edged Brydon Carse's first ball to wicketkeeper Stuart Poynter, then he edged the next ball where third slip had been prior to becoming a second gully.

He played with calm authority afterwards, but was struck on the hand by Carse on 44. After a lengthy delay he hooked the paceman to fine leg for one of the nine fours in his 79-ball half-century.

Ansari was on 32 when he needed treatment following a ball from Mark Wood. Two on-driven fours off Graham Onions provided the highlight as he progressed to 51. Durham had to turn to Scott Borthwick and in his second over he turned one sharply into the left-hander to have him lbw on the back foot.

Roy's 132-ball innings was ended by the first ball after tea when he gloved an attempted pull off Stokes to the wicketkeeper.

Sam Curran cracked Stokes to the cover boundary three times off the back foot before the England all-rounder tightened up with three successive maidens, the last of which included two wickets.

A stand of 54 ended when Ben Foakes pushed firmly and edged to Borthwick at second slip. Two balls later Tom Curran edged to Poynter, bringing in Gareth Batty with 59 needed. He helped to add 30 before falling to a stunning catch by Keaton Jennings, diving to his left at third slip.

Onions took the last two, Stuart Meaker edging a drive to first slip before Mark Footitt had his stumps splattered. In the morning murk Durham's two remaining wickets added 33.

Curran took his seventh when Onions drove a full toss to mid-off and Durham were all out for 246. Wood quickly took two wickets when Surrey batted, producing a snorter to have Kumar Sangakkara well caught by Poynter second ball.

It didn't look good for Surrey, but Roy, Ansari and the younger Curran ensured a thrilling climax.

Ben Stokes said: "The captain was going to take me off the over before I got Gareth Batty. But I felt everything was clicking. I was in good rhythm and I didn't want to give the ball up.

"We bowled a few maidens in a row and built the pressure, which always tells in those situations."

Surrey skipper Gareth Batty said: "It was a great game which could have gone either way. I don't feel we lost it today because we batted magnificently against a very good attack.

"We gave them a few too many boundary balls in their first innings and we have to learn from our mistakes.

"Sam Curran bowled beautifully in the second innings and that spell should have turned the game, but we let it drift again. Sam showed again today with the bat what a wonderful talent he is. The sky's the limit for him."

TEA REPORT

Jason Roy was four short of his second century of the match at tea, when Surrey were 168 for four, needing a further 113. After his first innings stand of 164 with Zafar Ansari the pair put on 143 after coming together at 11 for three.

Durham had to turn to Scott Borthwick and in his second over he turned one sharply into left-hander Ansari to have him lbw on the back foot for 51. Both batsmen needed treatment for hand injuries, which was slightly worrying for them ahead of Saturday's Royal London Cup final.

Roy was struck by Brydon Carse on 44 but then hooked the paceman to fine leg for one of the nine fours in his 79-ball half-century. On 65 he inside-edged Mark Wood just past his leg stump for four, but with the pitch offering little under a cloudless sky he looked more secure than in the first innings and played an array of powerful shots.

LUNCH REPORT

Mark Wood struck two quick blows when Surrey began their pursuit of 280 to beat Durham at Chester-le-Street. With Graham Onions also picking up a wicket, the visitors were 11 for three before the sun came out and Jason Roy and Zafar Ansair took them to 57 for three at lunch.

As in the first innings, Roy rode his luck. Durham were convinced they had him caught behind on nine off Brydon Carse's first ball, then he edged the next where third slip had been prior to becoming a second gully. Roy had two more edged fours off Carse, one just evading gully, on his way to 29 at the break.

Wood moved one away from Dominic Sibley to have him caught at first slip off the fifth ball of the innings, then produced a snorter to remove Kumar Sangakkara second ball. It lifted and left the Sri Lankan master for wicketkeeper Stuart Poynter to take a good catch high to his left.

Rory Burns twice drove Wood down the ground on his way to nine before he shaped to pull Onions and ended up skying a catch to gully. The murk which persisted yesterday was still around when play began with the floodlights on.

Durham's two remaining wickets added 33, the bulk of them coming from the impressive Carse, who remained unbeaten on 21.

He turned Mark Footitt off his hip for four behind square then hooked him to the fine leg boundary, but the left-armer accepted a simple return catch off a leading edge by Wood.

Sam Curran finished with seven for 58 when Onions drove a full toss to mid-off and Durham were all out for 246.

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