COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Emirates Ground:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Lancashire 344, Durham 27-1
Durham 3pts, Lancs 3pts
Match scorecard

Sutton face 168 deliveries and hit 12 fours in his unbeaten 101

Wicketkeeper Luke Sutton hit a century as Lancashire fought back against Durham on day two at Chester-le-Street.

After Lancashire resumed on 136-5, Sutton and Durham old-boy Shivnarine Chanderpaul (92) took their sixth-wicket stand to 135.

Sutton found more support from Sajid Mahmood (42) and was 101 not out when Lancashire were dismissed for 344.

James Anderson then had Michael Stoneman caught behind by Sutton to leave Durham 27-1 at the close.

Play began at 1355 BST after torrential overnight rain to take the total number of overs lost to the weather in the first two days to 75.

Chanderpaul, who was dropped on 10 on day one, had added only two to his overnight 30 when he survived a big appeal for caught behind off Steve Harmison and was in luck again when Ben Stokes' shy at the stumps missed when he was short of his ground.

The West Indian fell short of a century when he edged Liam Plukent through wicketkeeper Phil Mustard, leaving Sutton to take centre stage.

He found a willing ally in Mahmood and, other than a miscued hook on 65 which almost gave Plunkett a return catch, he progressed without much trouble to his second century of the summer.

Last man Simon Kerrigan fell caught behind to Mitch Claydon one ball after Sutton reached three figures, leaving Durham openers Stoneman and Michael di Venuto 13 overs to negotiate before the close.

They were on course to reach stumps unscathed, but Stoneman edged the first ball of the final over through to Sutton.

BBC Radio Newcastle's Martin Emmerson:

"I wouldn't have believed you if you'd told me at the end of day one that Lancashire would get three batting points here, but that is exactly what happened as Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Luke Sutton launched their rescue job.

"Chanderpaul was dropped by Michael Divenuto on 10 and made Durham suffer as he added a further 82 runs before falling just eight short of his century, a century Durham coach Geoff Cook says he wouldn't have begrudged him.

"But Sutton, with 101, was the real thorn in Durham's side, adding important runs at the end with Sajid Mahmood to steer Lancashire past what had been an improbable 300 the day before.

"Durham now have a job on their hands to draw a game they appeared destined to win just 24 hours earlier. But if the weather holds off there is still plenty of cricket to come here. "

BBC Radio Lancashire's Scott Read:

"Lancashire have not lost this season, in fact you have to go back over 12 months ago to find their last Championship defeat.

"Those qualities again shone through, in bright Red Rose colour.

"Just when it appeared that Chanderpaul would steal the show on his Lancashire debut against his former side, it was left to one of their most reliable players to take the headlines, an unbeaten century from Luke Sutton steering them towards the 350 mark.

"Then a wicket, and a Sutton catch, by Anderson in the final over of the day was the perfect way for Lancashire to end day two."

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