Luke Wells scored a maiden first class century as Sussex made Surrey’s bowlers toil on the third day of their Championship clash at The Oval.

The 22-year-old surpassed his previous highest score of 174 and went on to become only the second Sussex player after Ranjitsinhji to make a double hundred against Surrey at The Oval.

Wells had resumed on 108 and added a further 100 runs before his eight and three quarter hour vigil at the crease finally came to an end shortly before tea.

His score was the third highest by a Sussex player against Surrey anywhere and helped Sussex build a significant first innings lead.

Ed Joyce also made 98 and Matt Prior a quickfire 62 as Sussex went on to post a total of 526, a first innings lead of 175.

Steve Magoffin capped a good day for Sussex by dismissing Rory Burns in only his second over before Graeme Smith and Gary Wilson guided Surrey to 66-1 at the close - still trailing by 109.

Play got underway on time despite heavy showers in the morning and Sussex’s first task was to negotiate the new ball safely.

Ed Joyce survived a couple of big appeals from Jade Dernbach and Tim Linley and also edged a ball from Chris Tremlett just wide of Gary Wilson at second slip.

The Sussex skipper looked set to cash in by reaching his 30th first class hundred only to be dismissed in the 90s for the second innings in a row.

He fell for 92 at Headingley two weeks ago and got within two of his century this time before misjudging the line and being bowled by Gareth Batty.

That brought Matt Prior to the crease to join Wells and the England man quickly set about upping Sussex’s run rate.

He had a let off when Vikram Solanki put down a simple catch at short mid-wicket off the bowling of Linley when he had made just 18.

Prior made the most of that reprieve as he swept Batty for six on his way to a half century off just 36 balls.

When he was out miscuing a pull off Dernbach he had made 62 out of a partnership of 91 with Wells.

Wells went on to reach 200 before the introduction of the part-time spin of Solanki brought two quick wickets.

Wells was first to go for a magnificent 208 as he gave Solanki the charge and was bowled and then Rory Hamilton-Brown got a leading edge to give the bowler a return catch having made a perky 39.

Ben Brown and Chris Jordan both made 23 before being bowled by Linley who finished with respectable figures of 3-82.

James Anyon was caught on the boundary slogging while Monty Panesar became Chris Tremlett’s solitary victim as the England bowler posted figures of 1-85.

Surrey had 17 overs to negotiate at the end of the day and lost Burns in the fourth when he was caught behind driving a full length delivery from Magoffin.

Smith moved ominously on to 43 at the close, however, with first innings centurion Wilson unbeaten on 14.