LV= COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Riverside:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Essex 484, Durham 198 & 147-2
(Essex 6 pts, Durham 2 pts)
Match scorecard

Di Venuto hit 1,601 County Championship runs last season

Durham opener Michael di Venuto led the fightback after the champions were forced to follow on in the first defence of their title against Essex.

Spinner Tim Phillips and pacemen Chris Wright and Ryan ten Doeschate all took three wickets as Durham were bowled out for just 198, 286 runs behind.

But, despite David Masters removing Kyle Coetzer and Will Smith for ducks, di Venuto then took control.

He hit 75, backed by Dale Benkenstein's 62 as Durham got to 147-2 at the close.

After going all last season without a County Championship defeat, Durham's hopes of being beaten on the final day in their first match this time round now chiefly depend on last season's top run scorer di Venuto.

Essex spinner Tim Phillips told BBC Essex:

"We set ourselves a really good total in the first innings which against the reigning champions was always going to be a tough ask.

"But we've given ourselves a real chance in the game.

"obviously we've made a real statement about coming out of Division Two for the first time in a number of years and have started in a really positive way.

"So hopefully we can pick up a result and we'll give it our best."

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