DURHAM are almost certain to take an unchanged line-up into the opening LV County Championship match at Taunton on Sunday after everyone chipped in against Durham University.

Even though the students lost by 379 runs they took the match into the final session and Durham coach Jon Lewis said: “All credit to them – they fought hard and ensured that we maintained our standards for three days. It's difficult to see how we could have got much more out of the game and I feel we are well prepared.

“With only one warm-up game you really have to pick the XI you think will play. We might have a second spinner in the squad at Taunton and it helps that the second team will be at Bristol.”

Scott Borthwick took four for 61 as the University were dismissed for 170, completing a good match for the leg-spinner, who hit a century in the first innings.

“It was excellent for Scott to get through more than 30 overs in the match and the quality was also good,” added Lewis. “He threw in a few variations, which came off as his confidence grew.”

As Durham led by more than 500 at the start of the day and no-one wanted to risk pulling a fetlock there was never going to be a repeat of the students' second innings dismissal for 18 three years ago.

Durham batted on for 40 minutes before declaring on 260 for seven, Calum MacLeod top-scoring with an unbeaten 43 in which time in the middle seemed to be his primary concern.

The University openers were still together at lunch and had put on 62 before Charlie MacDonnell was lbw to Borthwick, whose googly always looked his most dangerous ball on a slow pitch offering little turn.

The leg-spinner bowled with good control to and also took the last wicket, although the students again batted a man short because of the injury to Jack Wood.

There were three wickets for Chris Rushworth, who impressed in his second spell when the ball was 30 overs old. He hurried one through left-hander Chaitanya Bishnoi's defences and also bowled Cameron Steel.

It became 95 for five when Borthwick picked up a second lbw verdict, but Durham have struggled to find a way to dislodge wicketkeeper Ollie Steele, who made an unbeaten half-century in his side's only innings in last year's rain-affected fixture.

He followed his 48 not out in the first innings here by batting nicely for 34, but when he fell to a bat-pad catch off Borthwick the end was nigh.

Rushworth bounced out Dimitri Ratnayeke – not something he is likely to achieve very often in first-class cricket – before John Hastings' efforts were finally rewarded when Paul Collingwood clung on to sharp slip catch with his left hand.

It was a shame that the cricket couldn't sparkle like the weather. The only other time a Durham first-class season has seen such glorious early sunshine was in 2011, although it did not arrive until the second match at the Rose Bowl.

Although the high-scoring game was drawn on a flat pitch, there were some memorable performances. Dale Benkenstein scored a century against the team he now coaches and Ben Stokes hit the first five balls of a Liam Dawson over for six on his way to 135 not out after taking six for 66.

The opposition included Johann Myburgh, who made as little impact with Hampshire as he did in his half season with Durham two years later. Somerset clearly see something in him and he is likely to be in their line-up on Sunday.