Love saved Durham from a two-day defeat

Peng was caught behind off Noffke, who picked up three for 51, and Durham were bowled out in just 54.3 overs.

Middlesex enforced the follow-on and the home side were soon in trouble again as Fraser had Jimmy Daley lbw second ball for nought.

Noffke dismissed Lewis for 11 and total humiliation seemed on the cards as Collingwood, Peng and Muchall followed for the addition of only 17 runs.

But Love stemmed the tide with a determined half century and he found an able ally in wicket-keeper Andrew Pratt.

They shared an unbroken stand of 69 with Love on 57 not out at the close and Pratt on 35, but they will need plenty more if Durham are to avoid a losing start to the season.

Durham: J J B Lewis (Capt), J A Daley, M L Love, P D Collingwood, N Peng, G J Muchall, A Pratt (Wkt), A M Davies, N C Phillips, S J Harmison, S J E Brown.

Middlesex: A J Strauss, S G Koenig, R M S Weston, O A Shah, E C Joyce, A A Noffke, P N Weekes, D C Nash (Wkt), S J Cook, A R C Fraser (Capt), P C R Tufnell.