Ben Harmison overshadowed older brother Steve as his four wickets helped Durham reduce Surrey to 220 all out on day one of the County Championship match.
But the visitors were in trouble themselves at the close on 44-3, Jimmy Ormond taking 2-23.
Harmison junior took three for four in 19 balls to wrap up the Surrey innings as the hosts lost their last six wickets for just 21 runs.
The hosts needed Scott Newman's 113 to save them further blushes.
Of the other Surrey batsmen, only Matthew Spriegel (35) and Usman Afzaal (15) managed to make double figures.
Surrey were rocked at the start of the day by the withdrawal of Mark Ramprakash with a stomach upset, meaning he will have to wait a while longer for his 100th first class century.
Newman hit 15 fours and a six in his 183-ball innings but his departure prompted a dramatic collapse from 199-4.
Ben Harmison finished with figures of 4-27 while Steve contributed 2-31 and fellow England hopeful Liam Plunkett 3-49.
Surrey hit back though with Ormond removing two, including Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and Jade Dernbach a third to to leave the match in the balance.
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