KYLE Coetzer, overlooked by Scotland for the World Cup, took out his frustrations on Durham University yesterday with a hard-hitting 153 not out at the Racecourse ground, writes tim wellock.

The 23-year-old Aberdonian's previous best first-class score was the 67 he made on his Durham debut against Glamorgan at Cardiff three years ago.

That was the first of six County Championship matches he played in that season, but he hasn't featured since and knows that this could be his make-or-break year.

Coetzer has adopted a more aggressive approach this season and has been among the runs for the A team, and yesterday he reached 150 at a run-a-ball with 23 fours and one six in a flawless innings.

Unfortunately for him, two of the batsmen he might hope to displace, Will Smith and Ben Harmison, shared an opening stand of 152 in a total of 397 for five declared.

Smith, the former university captain, won the toss and survived three chances, two of them in the gully area off successive balls, on his way to 105.

He made his runs off 146 balls, with 12 fours and a six, and became the first player to score a first-class century both for and against Durham UCCE.

Harmison made 82, but Gordon Muchall's hopes of finding some form were dashed by the second ball bowled by the students' captain, leg-spinner James Morris. Muchall had made only four when he pushed forward and edged to wicketkeeper Paul Dixey, who is on the Kent staff.

There were three wickets for seamer Nick Lamb, but Liam Plunkett was unbeaten on 31 when Durham declared.

The only university wicket went to Mark Davies as the students closed on 45 for one.