Lyth ton

The left-hander from Whitby has enjoyed some good fortune but has also played handsome strokes to all parts in an unbroken stand of 175 with Kyle Williamson.

The New Zealander has played very solidly in reaching 67 and it already looks as though Durham will need a similar response from Kumar Sangakkara. In switching between third slip and gully he has been powerless to influence proceedings on his first day for Durham.

After grafting through the morning session, Lyth drove fours either side of the wicket in the first over after lunch off Jamie Harrison.

A pull in front of mid-wicket off the same bowler took him to a 96-ball half-century through his seventh four before he was twice beaten by Chris Rushworth.

Harrison, who had Lyth dropped at third slip off a no-ball, over-stepped again when he might have gained an lbw verdict against Williamson, not that either Jeremy Lloyds or Alex Wharf have looked inclined to give anything out.

Lyth survived a good shout by Mark Wood on 78 then almost played on and nine runs later he edged a drive off the same bowler.

Scott Borthwick reached high to parry the ball upwards at second slip and Paul Collingwood, at first, dived to get his fingertips to the ball.

The captain introduced himself to the attack after 49 overs and, with the ball still swinging, beat Lyth on 90.

But the left-hander pulled a four off Collingwood then cut a slightly streaky 15th boundary, just out of the reach of backward point, to complete his ninth first-class century off 171 balls. Lady Luck refused to smile on Durham all the way to tea as just before the break Lyth was beaten by Wood and Williamson left a ball from Rushworth which cut back sharply and missed off stump by a whisker.