Durham v Nortants: Borthwick and Collingwood pile on runs for hosts

Borthwick made 1,122 first-class runs last season at an average of 41.51

Scott Borthwick and Paul Collingwood hit centuries as Durham took charge against Northants at Chester-Le-Street.

After bad light and drizzle prevented any play on day one, Keaton Jennings fell for a first ball duck to New Zealander Neil Wagner (4-95).

The hosts were reduced to 110-4 before Collingwood (101) and Borthwick (136) shared a record-breaking 187-run fifth-wicket partnership.

Muhammad Azharullah claimed a couple of late wickets as Durham closed on 362-8.

Collingwood hit his second first-class ton of the season, after making 100 against Notts in August

Borthwick, who hit an impressive 176 against Middlesex at Lord's in Durham's last match, passed 1,000 Championship runs for the second successive season, but was dropped on 82 when he edged Maurice Chambers behind to Ben Duckett.

The 24-year-old's stand with captain Collingwood, whose 101 came off just 142 balls and included 12 fours, was the highest for a fifth-wicket pair at Chester-le-Street.

Debutant Varun Aaron, who played for India during this summer's Test series against England, made his first appearance for Durham.

He helped them pass the 350 mark, finishing unbeaten on eight, but it may be his efforts with the ball that determine whether a positive result can be achieved in a weather-shortened game.

VIEW FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX

BBC Radio Northampton's Chris Egerton:

"Northamptonshire's season can be summed up by the day's play at Chester-le-Street.

"They bowled well with the new ball, induced the Durham top order to play and miss, and with the score on 110-4 just after lunch, they had had the better of things.

"But the fifth-wicket partnership between Scott Borthwick and the evergreen Paul Collingwood ensured Durham held the advantage at stumps.

"Northants fought back well with take four wickets after tea and with two days remaining, it looks unlikely that a result can be forced on what is a good cricket pitch."