THERE can be no doubt that Durham have the look of champions. Helped by a spell of 8-7-1-1 from Steve Harmison, they had title rivals Nottinghamshire rocking on 54 for five in reply to 356.

There were two wickets each for Liam Plunkett and Callum Thorp before Ali Brown and Chris Read took the hosts to 79 for five at tea.

Harmison arrived from Lord’s just in time to see Mitch Claydon, his Durham deputy, bowl two overs before making way after lunch.

Hostility ensued – the sort which many feel should have been directed at the Australians. The one run off Harmison came off the last ball of his fourth over and the breakthrough came in his sixth, when he had seven close fielders. It was Mark Stoneman at short leg who took the catch to get rid of ex-Somerset batsman Matthew Wood.

Nottinghamshire had scored only three runs off the first 13 overs and Bilal Shafayat had made four in 20 overs when Plunkett replaced Harmison.

Shafayat promptly hit two fours through the covers and, in stark contrast to Harmison, Plunkett conceded 17 runs in his first two overs. But he also took the wicket of Samit Patel, who sliced to Thorp at gully.

David Hussey cut the first two balls he faced for four, but Plunkett had his revenge when the Australian inside-edged a drive to Phil Mustard.

Mark Wagh was also driving when he edged Thorp to second slip, where Michael Di Venuto held a good catch high to his left.

Shafayat fell for 16 in the 30th over when Thorp surprised him by nipping one back to have him lbw.

Brown, as usual, countered fire with fire, driving Thorp over long-on for six on his way to 20 at tea.