DERBYSHIRE'S last-wicket pair extended their stand to 100 before skipper Billy Godleman fell for 98.
Replying to 366, Durham faced six overs before lunch and Cameron Steel and Michael Richardson took to them to 13 without loss.
On a murky morning, Chris Rushworth beat the bat countless times in the opening half hour before heavy drizzle forced a 35-minute break.
Matthew Potts, who has been named in the England Under 19 squad for four-day and one-day matches against India, was also on the mark. But it was Paul Coughlin who finally took the wicket.
Godleman tried to hook a bouncer and edged to Stuart Poynter. Having stood his ground on ten when Durham claimed a gully catch, this time he walked. So Durham didn't have to resist the temptation not to applaud when he reached his century.
Gurjit Sandhu, whose previous best first-class score was eight, was left unbeaten on 48 then opened the bowling with his left-arm swingers. Steel shouldered arms to one which passed perilously close to his off stump, but in improving weather he had reached ten at lunch with Richardson on three.
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