Ricky Ponting marked his first-class Surrey debut with a century as the runs continued to flow on day three at Derby.
The former Australia captain, now retired from international cricket, contributed 120 not out and shared 180 with Arun Harinath, who made a career-best 154, to help Surrey to 362 for four in reply to Derbyshire’s 452.
There were only three breakthroughs all day to leave a draw looking highly likely between two of the teams yet to win in Division One of the LV= County Championship so far this season. Somerset are the other.
There was a decent crowd at the County Ground on a sunny morning but they had to wait until after lunch to see Ponting play his first innings for Surrey as Harinath and Vikram Solanki denied Derbyshire early wickets.
Solanki was well short of his fluent best but applied himself to see the shine off the ball and help Harinath put on 133 for the second wicket.
Harinath gradually grew in confidence and glanced Mark Footitt to the fine-leg boundary to bring up a half-century with his seventh four.
There was some turn for the spinners but Surrey were close to batting through the morning when Solanki fell four balls before lunch to a sharp diving catch by Billy Godleman at short-leg off Wes Durston.
Derbyshire knew they had to get Ponting early to put the visitors under pressure. However, several of their bowlers complained of "light-headedness" along with umpire Nigel Cowley, who left the field for 20 minutes and was replaced by Surrey first team coach Ian Salisbury.
The sight of Ponting stroking the ball around was enough to make their heads spin further, yet Harinath was far from overshadowed and celebrated his third first-class century in style by lofting Durston for a straight six that was well caught by a spectator.
Ponting's first 50 for Surrey arrived from 85 balls when he pulled David Wainwright for his sixth four, although he was lucky when he mistimed a pull at Footitt which lobbed over the wicketkeeper's head for two.
Harinath reached 150 from 291 balls but was bowled when he tried to pull a Wainwright delivery. The 26-year-old departed to a standing ovation and a handshake from Ponting, who recognised the importance of his team-mate’s innings.
Ponting was soon raising his bat in recognition to the applause for his own hundred, which came when he swept Durston for his 13th four.
Although Zander de Bruyn was bowled by Wainwright, Derbyshire could only take one bowling point on a day dominated by batsmen.