Early finish at the Riverside

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LV County Championship - Division One
Riverside
Durham 280-3 (W R Smith 144 no, D M Benkenstein 61 no) v Lancashire
Durham (6pts) drew with Lancashire (5pts)

Once again, no play was possible on Saturday with heavy rain having left the Riverside pitch waterlogged, the match subsequently being abandoned as a draw.

As a result the sides shared four points each with Durham taking two bonus points and Lancashire the one.

Day three

There was no play possible on Friday because of heavy rain, leaving one day left for the teams to scrap for vital bonus points.

Day two

A century from Will Smith proved the highlight on a rain-hit second day of Durham's LV County Championship against Lancashire at the Riverside.

Smith's unbeaten 144 was his third century since being recalled at the end of May, the batsman having shown poor form - to the extent of being dropped last season - after being signed from Nottinghamshire as an opener.

With only 55 overs possible, Durham advanced from their overnight total of 142-3 to end the day on 280-3. Captain Dale Benkenstein was also unbeaten on 61, he and Smith having taken their partnership to 184 - a record fourth-wicket stand for Durham against Lancs.

After the start was delayed until 12.40pm because of a wet outfield, Durham added 110 runs before rain arrived at 3.55pm. Play resumed at 5.30pm with a further nine overs being bowled.

Benkenstein also has a point to prove, having passed 50 four times in his first five innings of the season before losing his form. However, playing an at-times methodical innings, another half-century - just his third since making such a strong start - eventually came.

Having started the day on 59, Smith faced 217 balls and hit a total of 17 fours on his way to his century - the feat achieved by paddling leg-spinner Francois du Plessis to long leg for a single.

The only clear chance came with Smith on 117, when he edged Glen Chapple at waist height to Paul Horton's right at first slip. The fielder barely laid a finger on the ball as it sped away for four.

Day one

Durham suffered the rare experience of having both openers run out as they reached 142-3 before rain brought an abrupt end to day one of their LV County Championship match against Lancashire.

Michael Di Venuto and Mark Stoneman both fell short of their ground on the opening day, however an unbeaten 59 by Will Smith kept Durham's title-winning bid on track.

After being put into bat, Australian left-hander Di Venuto was left stranded in just the fourth over when his straight drive rebounded off opening partner Stoneman, towards extra cover.

Steven Croft's pick up and throw gave Di Venuto no chance of getting back and he was run out for the fifth time this season.

His departure also continued his lean run following his pair against Hampshire in the previous LV County Championship fixture.

Smith and Stoneman propelled the Durham innings up to 92-1 before a sharp direct-hit from the evergreen Dominic Cork brought an end to the latter's fluent innings of 47.

Durham's positive start suffered another setback when Shivnarine Chanderpaul departed for a duck, lbw when half forward to Tom Smith.

Smith went on to register his fifth 50 of the season with a sumptuous on-drive off Glen Chappell, and he and captain Dale Benkenstein (21no) will return to the middle on day two looking to build on the hosts steady start.