BOTH sides seemed keen to make up for lost time when the start was delayed until 12.20 by rain as Sussex added 73 runs but lost three wickets in the first 70 minutes. They were 342 for nine when lunch was taken at 1.30, still 38 behind.

With the new ball due in six overs at the start, there was a bonus for Durham when Mitch Claydon struck in the third over. Robin Martin-Jenkins was justifiably disgusted with himself for driving wide of off stump and edging to Phil Mustard.

It was the first time Claydon had taken three wickets in an innings for Durham, but when Steve Harmison and Liam Plunkett took the new ball runs started to flow.

Harmison remained out of luck. He occasionally beat the bat and when he twice found the edge the ball flew over the slips for four.

Reserve wicketkeeper Andrew Hodd completed his third first-class century off 158 balls but was then pinned lbw by Plunkett for 101.

That merely brought in the Australian Damian Wright, who had retired while bowling with a side injury the previous day. Still obviously in some discomfort, he decided to slog and smashed Plunkett down the ground for two fours and a six on his way to 25 not out at lunch.

Harmison finally struck when he found the edge of Ollie Rayner’s bat to give Mustard his fifth catch of the innings.