THE curse of the seventh-wicket stand returned to haunt Durham yesterday at the scene of its most harrowing appearance last season.

The 52 added by Karl Krikken and Nathan Dumelow before bad light ended play is some way short of the 258 put on by Dominic Cork and Mathew Dowman at Derby last year, but has already reached frustrating proportions.

Derbyshire, who won the toss, were 239 for six when the gloom brought a premature end to a day of distinctly second division fare.

Simon Brown bowled tidily but without success in three short spells on his first appearance of the season. It was good to see a Durham new ball bowler keeping the ball well up, but there was no great swing on a chilly, breezy day.

As all the Derbyshire batsmen got into double figures, Durham could be well satisfied to have them struggling at 187 for six on a flat pitch. But Krikken's unbeaten 45 checked their progress after off-spinner Nicky Phillips had taken three of the wickets.

Steve Harmison produced a mixed bag but showed again that there is always a chance he will take a wicket, as two edges proved.

The first flew very fast to Phillips, who was delighted to hold it to get rid of left-handed opener Steve Stubbings for 29.

The second was mainly the result of steep bounce, forcing the experienced Rob Bailey to fend at it at shoulder height and give Andrew Pratt one of his three catches.

Harmison's bounce also brought up the 50 as four leg byes flew off Stubbings' helmet, and just before the close he forced Krikken to have treatment after a nasty blow in the ribs.

After his struggles with the new ball, Ian Hunter did better when coming on as first change, having Luke Sutton caught behind to end an opening stand of 47 in the 11th over.

Many of those runs had come to third man, with Stubbings twice edging Brown between third slip and gully for four.

Hunter should also have had Dowman on 12. But Phillips, deputising for Paul Collingwood at second slip, put down a much easier chance than the one he had taken.

Dowman went on to make 45 in the sort of style which makes onlookers ask why his first-class average is less than 30. He provided the answer as he suddenly wandered down the pitch to Phillips, played round a straight ball and was bowled.

If Dowman exasperates Derbyshire members, Tasmanian Michael di Venuto drives them up the wall as he shows little sign of improving on last season's disappointing returns.

He looked perfectly comfortable during a third-wicket stand of 59 but then sat back to cut Phillips shortly before lunch and edged to Pratt.

Phillips' third victim was Hetton-born Graeme Welch, who fell for 16 when he edged a drive to Martin Love at slip.

As Phillips had three for 49 from 28 overs it was a surprise that Michael Gough was not given a bowl as he has usually turned it more than his fellow off-spinner this season.

Phillips now has nine championship wickets, two more than he took all last season, and his control is improving through bowling more overs.

He still dropped short occasionally yesterday, Krikken pulling him for two fours in one over and inflicting a hand injury on Nicky Peng at short leg from another pull.

Peng was briefly replaced by 12th man James Brinkley and Durham will be hoping the damage does not inconvenience him if he gets to the crease today.