A MAIDEN first-class century from Zafar Ansari and a first Championship hundred of the season by Steven Davies left Derbyshire with a huge first innings deficit at the end of the second day of their LV County Championship match at the 3aaa County Ground.
Surrey were 392-8 at the close, ahead by 239 with the opportunity of more to add. Ansari made 105 and Davies was out in the final over of the day for 124.
Their day started with a special moment for Tom Taylor as, after a wicketless debut at Leicester last week, the 19-year-old took his first wicket in first-class cricket in the fourth full over of the day when he had Hashim Amla, the South Africa captain and one of the top batsmen in the world, lbw for 27.
It was a joyous and deserved success for the young seamer but though the outside edge was beaten regularly through the rest of the session, Derbyshire were made to wait for their next wicket.
That came a few minutes before lunch, when Vikram Solanki, having just reached his half-century off 59 balls with six fours and a six, tried to hit over mid off and was caught by Tony Palladino off Scott Elstone for 52.
That was 132-3 and though there was the occasional false shot and good ball, Ansari and Davies were largely untroubled as they took their partnership to 140 before Ansari was caught at short midwicket off the second ball after tea.
Mark Footitt struck twice with the second new ball, bowling Jason Roy and having Gary Wilson lbw at 298-6 but Davies completed his hundred off 139 balls with 14 fours.
Gareth Batty was caught at short midwicket off Elstone and, four balls into the final over, Davies was bowled driving at Marcus North, leaving Chris Tremlett 23 not out.
