JAMES Vince put Durham to the sword after arriving at the crease to face the second ball of the afternoon.
The axed England batsman raced to 89 off 101 balls at tea, when Hampshire were 267 for three.
Tom Alsop edged Ryan Pringle's first ball after lunch to Paul Collingwood at slip, but with spinners at both ends Vince quickly took advantage of some generous offerings.
In one over from Pringle he swept two fours then hit a six over long-off as the 100 stand with Will Smith came up in 20.2 overs.
Vince had a stroke of luck when he gloved an attempted hook off Ben Stokes over wicketkeeper Michael Richardson for four to reach his 50.
Smith progressed to 90 before he fell in the first over of Brydon Carse's second spell, slicing a ball which was well wide of off stump to point.
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