With 35 overs lost to bad light and rain, Surrey eventually stretched their 126-run overnight lead to 360 via first Smith and then a 65-run seventh wicket partnership between Patel and Clark (30).

Smith’s opening day 100 did much to take Surrey to 262 in their first innings and, resuming on 11, the player selected at the weekend to be England’s new Test wicketkeeper again showed his sublime stroke-making.

After a fifth re-start of the day at 2.38pm there was at last a prolonged period of play, having begun day three on 44 for three.

Smith moved smoothly past fifty, despite seeing Foakes fall for 13 when he edged Snater and was smartly held above his head at second slip by Harmer.

Sai Sudharsan helped Smith add 45 for the fifth wicket, taking Surrey’s lead beyond 200.

Smith greeted left-arm seamer Paul Walter’s first ball by pulling it straight to deep square-leg.

When Sudharsan fell for 12 in the next over, thin-edging Bosch behind, Surrey were suddenly 127-6 and Essex had a chance to stay in the contest.

Patel and Clark defied the Essex seamers for almost 20 overs before Jamie Porter dismissed Clark with a catch down at third man for his 500th first-class wicket.

That was quickly followed by Bosch bowling Tom Lawes for a first-ball duck.

Patel then pressed on the accelerator and although James Taylor was bowled sweeping at Harmer, he added 43 alongside Dan Worrall before being bowled by Critchley as last man out.

Report supplied by ECB Reporters’ Network.