COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Emirates Ground:
Durham 347-6 v Nottinghamshire (Durham 3pts, Notts 2pts)
Match scorecard

Durham skipper Phil Mustard hit his second first-class ton of the season

Phil Mustard hit an unbeaten century against title-chasing Nottinghamshire as Durham reached 347-6 on day one of their clash at Chester-le-Street.

The hosts had been struggling at 76-4 before Mark Stoneman (67) and Ian Blackwell (59) put on 87 runs.

Durham made sure they ended the day's play with a decent lead as Mustard (117) and Scott Borthwick (54) compiled a seventh-wicket stand of 159.

Adams was the pick of Nottinghamshire's bowlers, ending with figures of 3-83.

Division One leaders Nottinghamshire had gone into the game 16 points clear with three matches left, giving them a game in hand on their only realistic challengers, Somerset and Yorkshire.

But after the visitors reduced Durham to 76-4, half centuries from Stoneman and Blackwell began the recovery before Mustard took charge.

The Durham skipper's total was his highest since making 130 in the first match of the 2006 season at Canterbury.

His second 50 in a 131-ball century came off only 34 balls and included 10 fours as he and Borthwick took advantage of the new ball.

Fellow left hander Borthwick equalled his best of 54, made at Basingstoke last month, while Mustard cut a frustrated Ryan Sidebottom to the boundary and turned him to long leg for four bring up his century.

The England seamer, who will join England's Twenty20 squad after Wednesday's play, ended with figures of 1-83 after claiming the scalp of Michael Di Venuto for a duck at the end of the first over.

BBC Radio Newcastle's Martin Emmerson reflects on day one at Chester-le-Street:

"This was a day of contrasting fortunes as Notts dominated with the ball in the morning session, taking advantage of the moist conditions.

"However Durham fought back in the afternoon and didn't even lose a wicket in the evening session thanks to a great partnership of 159 from Mustard and Borthwick.

"Borthwick was dropped on nought by Chris Read and went on to make 54, Mustard scored 117 and really dug his team out of trouble.

"Three batting points for Durham too - quite a thing in this hit-and-miss season."

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