DURHAM face a tricky declaration decision today as they go into the final day of their match against Sussex at Hove leading by 181 with eight wickets standing.

They will look for quick runs in the hope of leaving themselves at least 60 overs to try to dismiss their hosts. But on a sound pitch the odds are on a third successive draw for the champions.

Back on the ground where he began his English career ten years ago, Michael Di Venuto showed his experience under clear blue skies in an extended evening session, accelerating steadily after a slow start to reach 75.

He shared an unbroken stand of 97 with Gordon Muchall, who survived a sharp low chance to Ollie Rayner at slip on six before profiting from a couple of loose overs of off-spin from Rory Hamilton-Brown.

Two fours to mid-wicket got him going and he drove the ball with exquisite timing as he took ten off an over from Luke Wright and outpaced his partner to finish on 51. He reached his third half-century of the season off 75 balls.

The fine early spring weather has allowed the season to start on flat tracks, meaning that matches can’t afford any lost time. But rain keeps arriving at an inopportune time for Durham.

When they wanted to knock over the Sussex tail yesterday, the start was delayed until 12.20, then they were further frustrated by the muck-or-nettles approach of the injured Damian Wright. His unbeaten 41 left Durham with a lead of only 17.

The regulations allowed play to be extended by half an hour, but as the sun was shining brightly at the close, the question might be asked: “Why not longer?”

Wright was unable to bowl because of his side injury, but Durham still began their second innings in circumspect style, reaching 53 for one in 20 overs at tea.

Di Venuto was unusually restrained. He was on 12 when Mark Stoneman fell for 24, edging off-spinner Rayner to wicketkeeper Andrew Hodd.

Although Di Venuto gradually stepped it up, there were signs of frustration for Will Smith when he went back for a second run, which his partner declined.

Smith was run out for seven, completing an unhappy return to the ground where he kick-started last season’s prolific scoring with a century.

He would have wanted a lead of 200 by the close and thanks to Muchall he almost got it.

With the new ball due in six overs at the start, there was a bonus for Durham when Mitch Claydon struck in the third over. Robin Martin- Jenkins drove wide of off stump and edged to Phil Mustard.

But when Steve Harmison and Liam Plunkett took the new ball runs started to flow.

Still waiting for his luck to turn, Harmison occasionally beat the bat and when he twice found the edge the ball flew over the slips for four.

Hodd, on 84 overnight, completed his third first-class century off 158 balls but was then pinned lbw by Plunkett for 101.

That brought in Wright, still obviously in some discomfort.

He decided to slog and smashed Plunkett down the ground for two fours and a six before Claydon returned to hit Corey Collymore on the foot and earn an lbw verdict.

Having never taken more than two wickets in a championship innings before, Claydon finished with four for 90.

There were five catches for Mustard, who held an edge from Rayner to give Harmison his only wicket.

■ Durham will travel to Bristol tonight for tomorrow’s Friends Provident Trophy tie against group leaders Gloucestershire, who have won all three games.

The return of former Bishop Auckland professional John Bracewell after coaching New Zealand appears to have galvanised Gloucestershire, who won six one-day trophies during his previous stint with them.

If Durham suffer a third defeat in four games they will face the same uphill task as last season to qualify for the quarter-finals, although this time they do not have two games against Scotland to help them.

Durham will consider handing 6ft 7in seamer Luke Evans a competitive debut to give Callum Thorp a rest as he has been out of sorts recently.

Scoreboard

Sussex v Durham At Hove

Overnight: Durham 380 (D M Benkenstein 136, L E Plunkett 94 no). Sussex269-6 (A J Hodd 84 no, L J Wright 67, M H Yardy 51).

Sussex First Innings

A J Hodd lbw b Plunkett .....................101

R S Martin-Jenkins c Mustard b Claydon ........... 3

O P Rayner c Mustard b S J Harmison .25 D G Wright not out ................................41

C D Collymore lbw b Claydon ............... 4

Extras (b1 lb13 w3 nb14 pens 0) 31

Total (98 overs) ......................363

Fall: 1-81 2-90 3-95 4-97 5-109 6-259 7-282 8-310 9-332

Bowling: S J Harmison 23-2-59-1. Thorp 14- 5-48-0. Plunkett 24-1-105-4. Claydon 20-1- 90-4. Blackwell 13-3-30-1. Benkenstein 4-0- 17-0.

Durham Second Innings Close

M D Stoneman c Hodd b Rayner ..........24

M J Di Venuto not out ...........................75

W R Smith run out .......................... 7

G J Muchall not out ..........................51

Extras (lb3 w2 nb2 pens 0).......... 7

Total 2 wkts (57 overs)...........164

Fall: 1-39 2-67

To Bat: D M Benkenstein, I D Blackwell, P Mustard, L E Plunkett, C D Thorp, M E Claydon, S J Harmison.

Bonus Pts: Sussex 7 Durham 7

Bowling: Collymore 8-3-30-0. Martin-Jenkins 13-5-29-0. L J Wright 10-4-27-0. Rayner 17-1-42-1. Hamilton-Brown 3-0-17-0. Yardy 2-0-8-0. Nash 4-1-8-0.