THE weather did Durham no favours in their opening Royal London Cup tie at home to Derbyshire as they were put in and twice had their innings interrupted by rain.

Michael Richardson had gone well past his previous one-day best of 64, made in this competition against Nottinghamshire last year, when the second break came with his score on 83.

Durham were 84 for one after 16 overs when the first interruption reduced the contest to 43 overs a side. With skipper Keaton Jennings making an excellent 79 off 72 balls, they had progressed to 194 for two from 34 overs when the rain returned.

Jennings hit four fours in five balls off former Warwickshire seamer Tom Milnes in the seventh over, three of them eased through extra cover while the fourth was pulled through square leg.

Stephen Cook contributed 16 to an opening stand of 47 before he tried to work Ben Cotton to leg and was lbw.

Richardson capitalised on his elevation to No 3 to display previously unseen one-day prowess, settling in carefully before becoming the dominant partner after the first break.

Jennings also looked the complete one-day batsman as he kept the board moving with steers and deflections when not striking boundaries.

He paddled leg-spinner Jeevan Mendis to fine leg for two to reach 50 off 49 balls, but was becoming increasingly anxious to press on when he went down the pitch and missed a googly.

He presented Gary Wilson with an easy stumping to end the stand of 122 in 20 overs.

Briefly becalmed by Tony Palladino, Richardson just cleared mid-off off the former Essex seamer in hitting his sixth four to reach 50 off 63 balls. He had added 25 with Graham Clark, who was on seven, when the rain returned.