Surrey v Lancashire: Rory Burns makes his best score of 227 at The Oval

India international Sai Sudharsan made just six after being out on 377-5, but he did manage to guide Burns to his double century before beating Tom Aspinwall to second slip.

However, Jordan Clark made 25 not out against his old county, helping Burns add a useful 50 for the seventh wicket before Burns passed Balderson and keeper Matty Hurst sprinted 30 yards to make a good tumbling catch.

Both Tom Lawes and Conor McKerr failed to score, both falling to left-handed spinner Tom Hartley, leaving Surrey to score.

It was, all in all, a trial for a young Lancashire team, consisting of seven home-grown players, including Rocky Flintoff, with an average age of 25.

Surrey were ruthlessly thrust into a position where they could secure their seventh Championship win of the season, while Lancashire could finish in the bottom two after this game – if they lose and Midlands pair Warwickshire and Worcestershire both win.