Durham 267-7 v Yorkshire

Second Division

Durham 267-7 v Yorkshire

The best news for Durham, and England, came before play when Paul Collingwood took his left arm out of its sling for the first time since his shoulder dislocation in pre-season and pronounced his aim to play the last month of the season.

If Collingwood lifted spirits with one wary movement, Jon Lewis drip-fed them with an unbeaten 120 of unbending resolve. An entire day spent rectifying a Durham innings, perhaps even a Durham season, as they try to escape the Second Division's nether reaches.

Last summer, Lewis could not get a run. He has an idiosyncratic crouching style which invites insecurity in bad times. This season, he has passed 50 seven times in nine championship knocks and once again lives off a rasping square cut.

Durham's coach Martyn Moxon is a sympathetic tutor who deserves better fortune. As the ball lurched around before lunch, and his top order crumbled by noon, he looked out upon his old stamping ground and murmured: "Nothing much changes."

Headingley at its most flattering for seam bowlers, and an uplifting return to England's one-day squad, were enough to give Darren Gough a merry expression and two good wickets. He looks fit but a yard short of pace.

Pieter Swanepoel, a swarthy South African, was solid, and received his second XI cap. He had Lewis dropped on 66, Yuvraj fumbling low to his left at first slip. Ian Pattison offered Lewis valuable support with his highest first-class score, 62, before Gary Fellows had him lbw on the stroke of tea.

The eye-catching innings came from Philip Mustard, a left-handed wicketkeeper on his championship debut. He stands and delivers, as Gough, a length ball driven back past him, can now testify. Someone said he had the look of Adam Gilchrist. "Please don't say that," said Moxon.