YESTERDAY’S monsoon did not last long enough for Durham as play resumed at 11.30 this morning at Basingstoke and less than 90 minutes later they were 40 for four.

Only Gordon Muchall of the top five reached double figures and he was still there on 36 at lunch, when Ben Stokes had helped in a partial recovery to 80 for four.

As there was still some moisture in the pitch the ball was nipping off the seam as well as swinging.

Hampshire declared at their overnight 421 for five and on a bright, blustery morning Dominic Cork and left-armer James Tomlinson earned three lbw verdicts.

The exception was Dale Benkenstein, whose lean run continued when he played back in David Balcombe’s first over and got the finest of edges to wicketkeeper Matthew Bates.

Michael Di Venuto and Ian Blackwell were both on the back foot when they were pinned in front, both failing to last an over.

Cork, who will be 39 on Saturday, snared Di Venuto with the fourth ball of the innings after being driven to the cover boundary.

Muchall survived a sticky start to drive Cork through mid-on in the 11th over, followed by another four clipped to mid-wicket.

Muchall gained in confidence, but with the total on 30 he lost Mark Stoneman, lbw to Tomlinson for nine. The same bowler removed Blackwell for one and Muchall had to knuckle down, allowing the fearless Stokes to dominate their stand. He was on 24 at lunch.