DURHAM began five days of cricket at home to Nottinghamshire this week by choosing to bat first in the championship match. Then they had some good news ahead of Saturday’s Royal London Cup semi-final.

There are three Nottinghamshire players in the England squad for Sunday’s Twenty20 international against India at Edgbaston, but Ben Stokes has been omitted.

As the ODI series concludes at Headingley on Friday, Stokes should be available to attempt a repeat of the century he scored against Nottinghamshire in the group stage of the cup.

Durham were without Phil Mustard today because of a knee injury suffered in training, so Michael Richardson will keep wicket with Irish seamer Peter Chase coming in for his debut.

The visitors also have a weakened attack with Andre Adams and Andy Carter injured and Harry Gurney on England duty. But they picked up three wickets as Durham’s total reached 101 at lunch.

Since the sides met at Trent Bridge Peter Siddle has been replaced by New Zealand all-rounder James Franklin, who is making his first championship appearance for Nottinghamshire, along with veteran ex-Lancashire spinner Gary Keedy.

Durham scored only five runs off the first five overs then Mark Stoneman hit three fours in five balls off Ajmal Shahzad. He added eight more boundaries in a 66-ball half-century.

Keaton Jennings made 11 before he shouldered arms and lost his off stump to Shahzad, who also removed Scott Borthwick for five when the left-hander sliced a drive to point.

Richardson went in at 34 for two and survived a very confident lbw appeal from Luke Fletcher on two. The third-wicket stand was worth 62 when medium pacer Steve Mullaney came on ten minutes before lunch and bowled Stoneman off an inside edge with his second ball.

The opener made 55, leaving Richardson on 27 at lunch with Calum MacLeod on one.