ON a Southport pitch offering steep bounce, Durham had to contend with a seriously testing spell from Jimmy Anderson after dismissing Lancashire for 204.

On his recovery from a shoulder injury Anderson has been made available for the first innings and will then be replaced by a seamer who should pose slightly less threat in Nathan Buck.

While facing the England man there was no opportunity for the batsmen to savour the delights of batting on a pleasant evening amid the gated mansions of Birkdale.

Anderson struck with his eighth ball and it was chiefly the bounce that accounted for Keaton Jennings, who edged to second slip for two.

The next over, however, bowled by Kyle Jarvis, yielded 21 runs, which included one of Mark Stoneman's three cracking off-side fours coming off a no-ball.

Durham then enjoyed some luck as Scott Borthwick edged the last ball of the over between slips and gully then Stoneman, on 20, edged Anderson just over the slips for another four.

Durham had 54 on the board after ten overs then Anderson beat Borthwick four times in six balls before being rested.

Chris Rushworth mopped up a fragile-looking Lancashire tail after tea, taking the last three wickets in 11 balls to finish with four for 30.

Extra bounce found Simon Kerrigan's edge to give Michael Richardson his third catch, then an excellent in-swinger knocked out Matthew Parkinson's off stump.

Having decided Anderson should bat at 11, skipper Steve Croft showed his lack of faith in him by farming the strike.

On 54 Croft tried to chip Rushworth through mid-on and got a leading edge to offer a simple return catch.

Ben Stokes was left wicketless from 14 overs, delivered in two spells which exceeded what the ECB had apparently requested in his first competitive bowl since his knee operation.

He beat the bat so often in his second spell he clearly couldn't believe he wasn't taking wickets and it is quite likely that his own frustration meant Durham couldn't get the ball off him.

Paul Collingwood is expected to bat tomorrow, although he need not go in until seven or eight given Durham's depth of batting. He has had the webbing of his left hand stitched.