A MUGGY day in which tiresome rain interruptions stole 24 overs was brightened by a run-a-ball century of rare elegance by Ambati Rayudu. Surrey’s young bowling attack toiled yet it was not age that made the difference. Rayudu is the youngest player on tour — not 18 until September — but class is not measured in years.

Rayudu, who shone on the India under-19 tour here last season, eclipsed Gautam Gambhir in a partnership of 171 for the fifth wicket after Rikki Clarke had taken two wickets in an excellent spell from the Vauxhall End. After the second rain interruption, he emerged in the late afternoon to claim the 13 runs he needed for his hundred.

That triggered the declaration, 289 runs ahead, and brought respite to the Surrey bowlers, all nine of them. Clarke was the only one to get on top, but the two teenage seamers — Jade Dernbach and Neil Saker — impressed. At 17, the South Africa-born Dernbach is the youngest player to represent Surrey in a first-class match for 30 years.

Surrey negotiated the last hour but still have a long way to go to save the match.