Durham were just ten runs behind Surrey’s first innings total of 129 with Dale Benkenstein and Paul Collingwood at the crease ready to resume on day two
Chris Rushworth opened Durham’s account when he had Zafar Ansari caught behind for just 1 early on.
There were two wickets in three balls for Ben Stokes who bowled Rory Burns on 14 and then had his replacement at the crease, Zander de Bruyn trapped lbw.
Mark Stoneman was the man behind the direct hit from square leg as Jason Roy (15) returned to the pavilion with Surrey 67-4.
Surrey lost 3-13 in the first six overs after the lunch break with Rushworth removing Arun Harinath’s off stump on 28, Matthew Spriegel (1) caught behind off Onions and Steven Davies (12) caught in the slips by Borthwick, giving Rushworth his third wicket.
Surrey were 117-9 after Callum Thorp catches Gareth Batty (11) off Stokes and then goes on to pick up his own first wicket when Borthwick caught Jon Lewis in the slips on 23.
Surrey were dismissed for 129 as Stokes claimed his fourth scalp, that of Linley, who was caught behind on 4.
Durham lost Mark Stoneman early in their response after he was caught by Ansari off Jade Dernbach for 6. Will Smith and first class debutant Keaton Jennings put on 27 before the former was caught by Roy off de Bruyn on 15.
Durham were 56-3 after Jennings was the victim of a direct hit and Stokes (6) wicket falling three overs later.
At the close of play on the first day Durham are 119-4,trailing Surrey by 10, with an unbeaten 61 run partnership from Collingwood (17*) and Benkenstein (40*).
Durhamccc.co.uk spoke to Ben Stokes at the end of the day, “We thought we had won the toss when we heard that we were bowling – we were a bit surprised when he found out Surrey had decided to bat first.
“It was nice to get to bowl in some bowler friendly conditions to start off with and I think as a unit we bowled really well to dismiss them for a low total.
“Hopefully now Dale and Colly can kick on and give us a good total. They got us out of a tricky situation after we lost three wickets in quick succession.”