Only 55 overs were possible on day two at the Riverside but Will Smith struck a century as Durham closed on 280-3.

Smith advanced to 144, his third ton since being recalled at the end of May, as Durham survived the day unscathed.

Skipper Dale Benkenstein moved to 61 as the partnership reached 184, a Durham fourth-wicket record versus Lancashire.

Smith gave only one chance when on 117, edging Glen Chapple to the right of first slip, but Paul Horton could not get a hand on it as it raced for four.

Former Notts batsman Smith failed to reach 50 in 19 Championship innings last season.

The start of day two was delayed until 1240 BST because of a wet outfield.

Smith pulled Dominic Cork for two fours in an over and calmly ignored the volley of abuse from the combative former England all-rounder, who is being released by Lancs at the end of the season.

He moved to 99 with an inside edge that just eluded wicketkeeper Luke Sutton and raced away for four.

He completed his hundred with a single off spinner Francois du Plessis, reaching three figures from 217 balls.

Durham added 110 runs before rain arrived at 1555, play resuming at 1730 for the final nine overs.

Benkenstein, who made four fifties in his first five innings of the season but has managed only two since before this one, might well have been lbw before adding to his overnight 21 when Chapple deceved him with an inswinger.

He battled on to fifty from 137 balls, helping the partnership beyond the 150 made by set by John Morris and Jimmy Daley at Old Trafford in 1995.