RORY Burns played a captain’s innings of 137 not out as Surrey took the first-day honours in their Specsavers County Championship Division One match against Worcestershire at the Kia Oval.

Burns was joined by Ben Foakes, who scored a fluent 72 from 105 balls, in a fourth-wicket stand of 125 as Surrey reached 278-4 against the top flight's bottom side.

Promoted Worcestershire, who have started the new campaign by losing all three of their previous games, bowled with spirit in the first session and a half after Surrey had chosen to bat on winning the toss.

Joe Leach’s two-wicket burst immediately after lunch, in which he had both Scott Borthwick and Ryan Patel caught behind, initially pegged Surrey back to 99-3 before Burns and Foakes carefully launched the counter-attack in impressive fashion.

At tea they had taken the total on to 176 with Burns on 84 and it was something of a surprise when Foakes fell in the 73rd over having just extra cover driven Ed Barnard regally for his 11th four.

Barnard, to his credit, then produced a superb delivery which moved away from Foakes just enough to touch the edge of a defensive bat on its way into the gloves of wicketkeeper Ben Cox.

In the final hour and a half, however, Burns and Ollie Pope added a further 54 with Pope finishing unbeaten on 18 and by the close Burns had faced 294 balls, hitting 12 fours.

Earlier, Mark Stoneman’s run out for 28 was the only blot on an otherwise profitable morning for Surrey as they reached 87-1 by lunch.

England Test opener Stoneman featured in a hard-working first-wicket stand of 50 with Burns with both left-handers dealing well with a new ball that did nibble around enough to give Worcestershire’s seam attack significant encouragement.

But then Stoneman pushed a ball from Josh Tongue into the covers, called for what was always going to be a risky single and was beaten by Barnard’s excellent pick-up and direct hit on the bowler’s stumps.

Both Borthwick and Patel got to 10 before the two left-handers were beaten by Worcestershire captain Leach’s away movement from around the wicket and edged to Cox.

Fast bowlers Stuart Meaker and Conor McKerr were brought into Surrey’s team, replacing Matt Dunn and Jade Dernbach.

Patel, who played in the draw at Lancashire last week, was pushed up the order to bat at number four in place of overseas batsman Dean Elgar who is missing the match due to a prior commitment back home in South Africa.

For Worcestershire, the 20-year-old former England under 19 all-rounder Ben Twohig was making a first-class debut.

He bowled his slow left-arm spin with energy and decent control in several spells during a well-fought day in which Burns and Foakes proved to be the difference.