DISTANT observers must wonder if the batting orders have been reversed at Chester-le-Street. After Sussex's record tenth-wicket stand of 164, Durham's ninth-wicket pair of John Hastings and Usman Arshad put on 116 after three wickets went down on 222.

They had just taken Durham into the lead when Arshad fell for 35, driving Steve Magoffin to mid-off in the first over with the new ball. Two overs later Hastings sliced an attempted big hit to third man to depart for 72 and Durham were all out for 339, a lead of four.

On a pitch offering plenty for bowlers and batsmen, batting has become much easier when the ball is 60 overs old. And, unlike in Sussex cricket manager Mark Robinson's day, teams bat all the way down.

Durham's use of a nightwatchman meant Hastings went in at No 10 and after playing himself in carefully he began to use his burly frame to good effect in making 72.

Chris Nash needed treatment after parrying a particularly fierce return drive. Offering Sussex's only spin, his seven overs cost 42 runs.

Calum MacLeod was first to go after lunch, driving lavishly at Ajmal Shahzad and edging to Ben Brown. Two balls later Phil Mustard poked a catch to third slip, then Oliver Robinson continued his sensational debut by claiming the scalp of Paul Collingwood.

Steep bounce saw the Durham captain caught at second slip, but a five-wicket haul to go with his century eluded Robinson.