On day two of this intriguing contest, it would appear that an unbeaten sixth wicket partnership of 131 in 48 overs between Will Smith and Phil Mustard has now swung the advantage back towards Durham. Smith’s meticulously fashioned 126 not out off 269 balls, his second championship century of the season for the Riversiders, was the day’s undoubted highlight, unless, of course, you happen to be a Surrey fan. The 25-year-old was ably supported, first by Ben Harmison and then Mustard who finished with an undefeated 62 in 134 deliveries.

Only fourteen overs were possible before lunch, during which the visitors progressed from their overnight score of 44-3 to 98-4. Watch the action from day two at Guildford on Surrey TV.

In spite of light rain, proceedings got underway on time. James Ormond opened up from the Pavilion End and off the third ball of the day Smith ran him down to the third man boundary for four. Jade Dernbach, operating from the Railway End, saw his first delivery driven sweetly through cover by Dale Benkenstein. But just eleven minutes in, a heavy shower led to the covers being brought on.

When play resumed at 12.20pm Benkenstein flicked Dernbach to the fine leg boundary before cover driving Ormond for four. After the Durham captain departed in the 24th over, caught behind for 25, Will Smith and Ben Harmison inched the visitors back into the match with a fifth wicket alliance that was worth 55 in nineteen overs.

Smith on drove Ormond for four and in the very next over cover drove Chris Jordan. Twenty minutes after lunch the former Notts man reached his half-century in 89 deliveries with his eighth four, which was sent skidding to the square leg boundary off the bowling of Dernbach.

The 25-year-old then cut Murtaza Hussain for two fours in one over. But, at the other end, Ben Harmison was becoming increasingly bogged down. Nevertheless it needed the quick reactions of Ormond to cling on to a sharp chance at slip, after the ball ricoched off the keeper’s glove, to give Murtaza his first wicket of the season.

Smith then joined forces with Phil Mustard and in the 50th over Mustard brought up the 150 for Durham with the second of two successive fours off Ormond. With the light deteriorating, spin was employed at both ends, but even though the pitch was beginning to offer assistance to the slow bowlers the visitors’ sixth wicket pair stood firm.

Mustard was a little fortunate when, on 13 and 31, he swept the ball high into the air, but Smith batted with unwavering discipline; freeing his arms only to pull and cut when the opportunity presented itself.

In the last over before tea Smith brought up his hundred and the visitors’ 200 with a cut three to deep extra cover. The former Durham University student reached three figures off 215 balls and after the break on drove Dernbach for four to bring up the hundred stand between him and Mustard.

In the very next over Mustard went to fifty in 110 deliveries, with the first of two pulled fours off Ormond and when he stroked the 30-year-old seamer to the straight boundary in the 90th over the Brown Caps appeared to be running out of options. At 5.35pm, however, bad light thankfully brought an early end to proceedings, with the visitors 259-5.

Watch the action from day two at Guildford on Surrey TV.

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