DURHAM can never have fielded a stronger batting lineup than in the match against Nottinghamshire, but they were deeply indebted yesterday to their senior statesman.

Michael Di Venuto, who will be 38 in December, scored a priceless century as the rest struggled to capitalise on Durham’s extraordinary good fortune with the toss.

The visitors had to resort to posting men on the point, square leg and long leg boundaries and feeding Di Venuto singles to keep him off strike as he made 132 out of a total of 272 for seven.

Durham won the toss for the 11th time in 12 games in the championship, in which Phil Mustard went into the match averaging 67.71 yet found himself obliged to bat at No 8.

There have been times when he might have preferred not to have had to make the decision, notably when twice inserting Somerset. It was probably another difficult choice in yesterday’s sultry heat, with the ball expected to swing.

In fact, new ball pair Darren Pattinson and Charlie Shreck posed little threat as Di Venuto and Will Smith followed their stands of 74 and 202 in the defeat at Taunton by putting on 54. And there was a time in late morning when runs positively flowed.

But Andre Adams, whose 68 wickets propelled Nottinghamshire to the title last year, proved that at 36 he remains a handful.

The bustling New Zealander took four wickets to reach 49 for the season before Mustard went to the crease with his side on 197 for six on a day when 23 overs were lost to afternoon rain.

When play resumed just before 4pm Durham were 139 for three and in the 11 overs to tea Di Venuto sped from 73 to 101.

He was becalmed afterwards through a combination of the defensive field and good bowling from Adams and Paul Franks.

After seeing Ben Stokes depart for six to a dubious lbw decision and Ian Blackwell for a duck to a sharp slip catch, the opener also wanted to survive to the close.

Durham’s selection was probably influenced by the fact that seam bowling is clearly Nottinghamshire’s strength and they apparently propose to open the batting with a pair of debutants.

One is Karl Turner, the Esh Winning CC product who made his Durham Academy debut in 2004 and became a second team regular before being released at the end of last season.

He has already had trials with Hampshire and Derbyshire this season and scored 185 for Nottinghamshire seconds against the MCC Universities at Weetwood, Leeds, last month.

He is due to open with Sam Kelsall, from Stoke, who has been playing for England Under 19s recently. But the visitors were given no reason to regret releasing Will Smith as he made only 13 before being caught at long leg off Pattinson.

It was scarcely a deserved wicket for England’s one-cap mystery, who seemed unaware that Di Venuto can cut and pull until the cows come home.

He was pulled for three fours shortly after the rain break, then on 95 Di Venuto drove Shreck through extra cover for four and followed up with a quick single to mid-on to reach his third century of the season off 139 balls.

At that point only 55 runs had come off the bat at the other end, with 28 extras boosting the total.

Durham were at their most dominant in the second hour, when Di Venuto and Gordon Muchall put on 66 in ten overs.

Muchall looked fortunate to survive a big lbw appeal from Pattinson off his first ball, and although he put away several bad balls, notably from Franks, he struggled against Adams.

On 17 he was beaten twice in an over then edged just short of first slip. But after reaching 30 he went for an off drive and had his off stump trimmed.

In his next over Adams had Paul Collingwood caught behind for a duck as the batsman tried to withdraw his bat.

Dale Benkenstein contributed only 12 to a fourthwicket stand of 54 before a thick edge off a forcing backfoot shot was well held by Steven Mullaney at gully.

When Stokes and Blackwell swiftly followed it was necessary for Mustard to knuckle down. He lived a little dangerously at first, even proferring a cheeky dab over the slips, but reached 30 through controlled strokeplay.

He then survived a difficult chance to Pattinson at mid-on off Shreck, prompting Di Venuto to have a word, presumably along the lines that they needed to see out the remaining seven overs.

It was the opener who departed, however, in the penultimate over. He had just cut medium pacer Mullaney for his 18th four when he felt for a good length ball just outside off stump and edged to Read.

Mustard had made 45 out of their stand of 74 and added a single before the close.

SCORECARD

Durham v Nottinghamshire
At Emirates Durham ICG. Durham Won Toss

Durham First Innings Close
M J Di Venuto c Read b Mullaney 132
W R Smith c Franks b Pattinson 13
G J Muchall b Adams 28
P D Collingwood c Read b Adams 0
D M Benkenstein c Mullaney b Adams 12
B A Stokes lbw b Franks 6
I D Blackwell c Voges b Adams 0
P Mustard not out 46
C D Thorp not out 0
Extras (b13 lb14 nb8 pens 0) 35
Total 7 wkts (73 overs) 272
Fall: 1-54 2-120 3-122 4-176 5-188 6-
197 7-271
To Bat: M E Claydon, G Onions.
Bowling: Shreck 17-0-66-0. Pattinson 19-
3-50-1. Adams 20-3-59-4. Franks 11-0-
58-1. Mullaney 3-1-9-1. G G White 3-1-3-0