Mark Waugh showed his class by rescuing a lunch-time crisis for Essex by hitting a century, adding 218 with Aftab Habib for the fourth wicket.

Waugh, who spent much of his innings getting used to the bowling of Ashes tourist Steve Harmison, was finally out for 117 when slow bowler Nicky Phillips struck.

Attempting to hit a half-volley for six, he succeeded only in giving Harmison a catch at long on.

But Habib continued his merry way, and was finally out for 123 just before the close.

The Essex innings will resume on Thursday with James Foster, fit again after an injury-plagued summer, and Paul Grayson at the crease.

Grayson, standing in as captain with Ronnie Irani flying to Sri Lanka in the England one-day party, won the toss and elected to bat on a perfect morning in the north east.

Opening pair Darren Robinson and Will Jefferson began steadily, but both fell just before lunch.

Immediately after the interval, John Stephenson fell for a duck to make the score 83 for three before Habib and Waugh repaired the damage in emphatic style.

Harmison bowled 22 overs, taking one for 56.

Durham: M A Gough, G J Pratt, B J Hodge, G J Muchall, A M Thorpe, I Pattison, A Pratt (Wkt), I D Hunter, N C Phillips (Capt), N Killeen, S J Harmison.

Essex: D D J Robinson, W I Jefferson, J P Stephenson, M E Waugh, A Habib, A P Grayson (Capt), J S Foster (Wkt), J M Dakin, J D Middlebrook, G R Napier, J B Grant.

Essex won toss and decided to bat