West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul celebrated his award as the ICC Player of the Year by hitting 93 for Durham in a County Championship first division clash with Somerset at Taunton.
After bowling out fellow title hopefuls Somerset for just 224, Durham will resume Friday's final day of the rain-affected match on 265 for three with Michael di Venuto, who shared a 174-run stand with Chanderpaul, still at the crease on 131 not out.
Charl Willoughby was the only home bowler to get any real joy, accounting for Chanderpaul, to return figures of two for 58 off 28 hard-working overs.
Relegation-haunted Surrey are 171 for seven in response to Hampshire's 480 for eight declared at The Oval.
Scott Newman hit 58 at the top of the order but only captain Mark Ramprakash, with 55 not out, offered support.
