Derbyshire's young pace bowler Wayne White ended an injury-hit season on a high with a four-wicket haul before rain ended play early at Derby.

White took the only two wickets to fall in the morning as Surrey avoided the follow-on but the Division Two champions are still 110 runs behind with one day remaining.

Tim Murtagh and Neil Saker fought hard to take their seventh-wicket stand to 72 off 38 overs before White finally made the break through with the new ball.

The 21-year-old, who has missed most of the summer with a stress fracture of the back, removed Saker and Nayan Doshi in successive overs to leave Surrey on 275 for eight at lunch but rain arrived during the interval and play was abandoned for the day at 3.30pm.

Surrey began the third day still in danger of being asked to follow on and with question marks over the fitness of skipper Mark Butcher, who was forced to retire on the second evening with a knee problem.

The former England batsman is still in a lot of discomfort and is unlikely to take any further part in the match but Murtagh and Saker passed the follow-on target of 236 and slowly chipped away at the home side's lead.

It was hard going on a cloudy morning under the County Ground floodlights but Murtagh and Saker played sensibly to frustrate the Derbyshire seamers.

The runs came slowly but Murtagh showed restraint until, on 36, he pulled the off-spin of Greg Smith to midwicket and White put down the chance.

Derbyshire took the new ball as soon as it became available and Murtagh had another escape on 38 when Smith dropped him at gully off White.

But White struck with his next ball when Saker was caught at point for 30 and Doshi did not score before he edged to second slip.

At that stage, White had figures of four for 35 and Murtagh was 41 not out from 155 balls but the rain prevented any further play and the game now looks likely to end in a draw.

Meanwhile, Derbyshire confirmed they are interested in signing the 33-year-old Gloucestershire and former Worcestershire opener Phillip Weston, who is leaving Nevil Road.