KEATON Jennings yesterday brought a remarkable silver lining to a day on which it was confirmed that Scott Borthwick is leaving Durham.

The unstoppable opener became the first batsman to score seven championship centuries in a season for Durham and hit the last ball of the day for four to reach 200.

The remarkable powers of concentration he has developed, while mastering the art of calmly accumulating runs, saw him bat all day at Emirates Riverside to take Durham to 393 for nine against Surrey.

There is almost as much to admire about the way he works the ball into spaces for ones and twos as about his range of strokes, which he has expanded through his desire to be a mainstay of the T20 team.

That enabled him to reach his hundred with a reverse paddle for four after playing back five balls from left-arm spinner Zafar Ansari on 99.

That was his 18th four and after reaching his century off 171 balls he stepped on the gas with his next 50 coming off 61.

When the new ball was taken he slipped into overdrive as a series of imperious straight drives off the Curran brothers brought 30 runs off three overs. His fourth 50 came off 51 balls.

Without his contribution Durham would be heading for another defeat. But thanks to assistance from another South Africa-born player, Brydon Carse, he ensured that maximum batting points are in sight.

Mark Wood also made a breezy contribution and Jennings said: “I was flagging a bit when he came in, but the energy and charisma he brings changes the dynamic of the team.

“It's a day I will remember. It's very special to take a club record from players like Paul Collingwood and Michael Di Venuto.

“I've had a lovely message from James Taylor with some really nice words, which means a lot coming from a guy who has played a bit of Test cricket.

“There's no chance of me going back to South Africa. I decided to make a career here. This is my home now and I'm ready to play for England if they want me.”

Among the rest of the top eight, Borthwick top-scored with 38 and the problems looming in the batting ranks were glaringly obvious once he and Mark Stoneman have gone.

Their acceptance of the Surrey shilling has left Durham no option but to give Graham Clark and Stuart Poynter opportunities to prove themselves. But both made nought as Mark Footitt, another acquisition from elsewhere, took four wickets.

The burly former Derbyshire left-arm paceman had similar success to Nottinghamshire's left-armer Harry Gurney two weeks ago, bowling a blend of dross and good balls.

He produced a beauty to bowl Ben Stokes for 24, but got two of his wickets with innocuous balls. Paul Collingwood reached for a full, wide one and gave a catch to gully, then Clark spooned a catch to mid-wicket.

Stoneman was out for 20 after Durham chose to bat and sprang a surprise by recalling Carse at the expense of Chris Rushworth, who was rested after playing in almost everything.

Poynter was recalled in place of Michael Richardson, who made 99 for the seconds in a friendly in Sussex.

After short spells from his four seamers, Gareth Batty came on at 61 for one after 17 overs and Jennings confidently took him on. After sweeping the spinner to fine leg he advanced to lift him for another four to long-on.

Borthwick was pinned lbw by a skidder in the first over of Tom Curran's second spell then Jack Burnham under-estimated Stuart Meaker's pace when he lobbed an attempted pull to mid-off.

Stokes scored all his runs in boundaries, although one was off the edge when looking to turn Meaker to leg.

It was beginning to look too easy for him when he dispatched Footitt through the covers then clipped him to the mid-wicket boundary.

But Stokes was rooted to the crease when the pacy left-armer speared one through his defences to hit off and middle.

Collingwood dug in to contribute 14 to a stand of 53, but after Clark's exit Poynter edged a good one from Footitt low to third slip.

That made it 232 for seven, but Carse confirmed his all-round potential by picking up Footitt for six over square leg on his way to 32.

Wood made 28 before edging to second slip, leaving Graham Onions to keep Jennings company until the hero of the day ran the final ball to third man.