By Jon Steer
April 21 2005

Michael Hussey showed what he could do as captain by winning the toss and ending the day 165 not out. Durham lost just one wicket in each of the day's sessions to finish on 325-3. Gordon Muchall scored 82 with Jon Lewis making 50. In what must be the best opening day Durham have had for a long time, Michael Hussey showed just why he is so much in demand. After winning the toss and electing to bat him and Jon Lewis made a very positive start with an opening stand of 93 that saw Lewis fall just after reaching his half century.

The fall of the first wicket saw the run rate drop as Paul Collingwood struggled to score, making just 18 from 77 balls in a second wicket stand of 55. Colly will need to do better if he is to get the England selectors to back him for a place in the test squad.

The fall of Colly saw Gordon Muchall come to the wicket at a time when the innings could have gone either way. The run rate took an immediate boost as both players begun to score freely and even the previously tight bowling of Henderson started to suffer. The stand of 166 saw Hussey reach his century and was ended when Muchall was run out for 82, looking every bit as it he would reach his own century.

Dale Benkenstein ended the day on 3 not out and with Nicky Peng still to come in, Durham ought to be looking to maximum batting points and a dominating position.