MEMORIES of the nervous 90s were banished by Scott Borthwick yesterday as his classy batting swept him to his tenth first-class century for Durham.

On another run-laden surface at Emirates Riverside, they were in slight danger of under-achieving against Lancashire when Paul Collingwood went in at 151 for four.

But 11 days short of his 40th birthday the captain made an unbeaten 85 to steer the ship into the calm waters of 341 for six at the close of the first day.

Borthwick, who made 134, was out three times in the 90s last season, and when he did reach his only century he fell for 103 at Worcester.

He didn't have the best of starts this season, but looked in supreme form yesterday from the moment he turned his first ball behind square for a single.

He said: “It's a decent pitch and I felt in pretty good nick from the start. I didn't score many in the first two games, but I didn't feel in bad form.

“A few low scores play on your mind and I was a bit nervous again in the 90s, but once I got to my hundred I was determined to go on.

“Our coach, Jon Lewis, talks a lot about getting big hundreds and I was disappointed with the way I got out. I was trying to hit it straight back over the bower's head.”

Superbly-timed cuts and glides behind backward point were the highlight of his 158-ball century, marginally ahead of the flowing drives through extra cover which took him to 50 and 100.

He almost gave a return catch to Kyle Jarvis on 62 and inside-edged Tom Bailey for four shortly afterwards. Otherwise it was a display which cannot fail to have impressed watching selector James Whitaker.

At least he had plenty of English talent to watch. Bailey and Simon Kerrigan are from Preston and there are several others in this Lancashire team from footballing towns like Bolton, Oldham and Blackpool. Wicketkeeper Alex Davies hails from Darwen and Liam Livingstone from Barrow.

Given that Durham were without the normally injury-proof Chris Rushworth for the first time for three years, Lancashire clearly wanted to bat on another good surface.

Rushworth suffered a slight muscle tear in his lower back during training, so Durham were spared the choice between James Weighell and Barry McCarthy as Ben Stokes' replacement.

It gives their attack an inexperienced look, but no more so than Lancashire's. Bailey, in for Jimmy Anderson, was the pick of their seamers with the first three wickets, all from edged catches.

It seemed odd that the whirligig action of Luke Procter was employed ahead of New Zealand Test paceman Neil Wagner, who found Jack Burnham already well set when he did come on.

After twice driving the left-armer through extra cover and edging him over the slips, Burnham copped some short stuff and fierce glares in contributing exactly half of an 88 stand with Borthwick.

Wagner's aggression also failed, quite predictably, to unsettle Collingwood and he ended the day by being pulled for six by Weighell.

Mark Stoneman scored the first 24 runs before Keaton Jennings almost ran him out scampering his only run.

He edged to Davies when pushing forward in the seventh over, whereupon Borthwick strode out to take command.

Stoneman made 31 before he shaped to drive a ball swinging into him through mid-on and edged to Karl Brown at second slip.

Burnham almost drove a catch to mid-off on ten, but rode his luck well to reach 35 at lunch, only to be tied down by good bowling from Bailey afterwards.

Both Burnham and Michael Richardson edged to first slip when playing defensively forward, the latter giving a wicket to Jarvis.

Collingwood settled in quickly, driving and pulling successive balls from Wagner for four before the left-armer tightened up.

Lancashire turned to left-arm spinner Kerrigan at 184 for four after 53 overs and Borthwick swept his fourth ball for four to reach 90.

He continued to sweep with assurance after reaching his hundred and with Collingwood also going well after driving Kerrigan for a straight six, runs were flowing when Borthwick holed out at long-on.

Ryan Pringle struck some meaty blows in his 25 before gloving an attempted hook to slip, giving Weighell the chance to end the day on a high note.

Today will begin on an even higher one if Collingwood adds the 15 runs he needs for his second successive century.