EVEN with the bat, the shivering Sri Lankans struggled to warm to their task in the evening gloom of Chester-le-Street after their mixed bag of bowlers had allowed Durham to amass 469.

In the face of some lively bowling from Ian Hunter they lost two quick wickets before acting captain Marvin Atapattu provided a hint of the expected sparkle with an unbeaten 40 as they reached 92 for three.

Durham's Paul Collingwood continued to steal the show as he progressed from his overnight 103 to 190 and 19-year-old wicketkeeper Phil Mustard hit a run-a-ball 75 on his first-class debut. Collingwood said: "I think the England team will be picked, but if I continue to make big scores I hope to get a Test chance in the future.

"I haven't made as many runs as I would have liked this season, which is why I wanted to play in this match. I needed time in the middle and after making a hundred on the first day it helped my confidence.

"It's probably the best I have played. I was happy with my shot selection and my concentration was good until I got out. I was trying to hit it in front of square but it bounced a bit higher than I expected."

Although born in Sunderland, Mustard does not share Collingwood's passion for the local football club, having spent four years with Middlesbrough's junior sides.

He learnt his cricket with Hylton CW and said: "I never dreamed I would score 75 on my first-class debut.

"I have worked hard on my batting during the winter because you need to make runs to be a wicketkeeper at this level."

Following the loss of 46 overs on the first day, a further 28 were washed away before play began yesterday with Durham on 219 for four and it seemed the sides had settled for one innings each in this three-day match.Collingwood's innings was the highest by a Durham batsman on home soil, with the county's only higher first-class knocks being Jon Lewis' 210 not out on his debut at Oxford University and John Morris' 204 at Edgbaston in 1994.

It was also the third highest score at the Riverside, ten short of the record of 200 not out shared by Graeme Hick and South Africa's Daryll Cullinan. Having equalled his previous best of 153, made at Edgbaston last year, with a wonderful straight six off lanky left-arm paceman Nuwan Zoysa, Collingwood seemed determined to complete a double century.

Under no pressure from a looming declaration, his concentration never wavered and he studiously ignored the bouncers sent down by the tourists' best bowler, Chaminda Vaas.

But when the third member of the left-arm trio, Ruchira Perera, banged one in short Collingwood hooked it straight to deep square leg to end his 212-ball innings, which featured 22 fours and five sixes.

It gave Perera a measure of revenge after he was hit for nine off the day's first over by Collingwood when play began at 1.25, including a six pulled behind square.

Despite his unflagging enthusiasm, Perera looked well short of Test class and as Tuesday's fourth seamer, Ishara Amerasinghe, did not bowl yesterday because of injury, the Sri Lankans were left with no effective back-up for the opening pair. This should not detract, however, from Mustard's effort as he cashed in after Ashley Thorpe, Marc Symington and Hunter had missed the boat.

Mustard had a top score of 64 in the Second X1 Championship, and while some of yesterday's bowling was of second team standard he missed few opportunities to put it away. He was particularly strong through the off side off the back foot, but also clipped off spinner Thilan Samaraweera wide of long-on for six to reach 50 off 45 balls.

There were fears that Thorpe might join the casualty list when he was struck on the wrist by Perera before adding to his overnight six. But he continued after treatment and made 29 before skying an attempted pull to mid-on, then Symington was lbw to Perera and Hunter was brilliantly stumped down the leg side.

Although Mustard got off the mark with an edge, he soon began to middle the ball and the six which took him to 50 also brought up the 100 stand in 14 overs.

It was only four short of Durham's record eighth-wicket stand, between David Graveney and Anderson Cummins at Edgbaston in 1994, when Collingwood was out.

With the new ball taken, Mustard was bowled by Vaas straight after tea. Graeme Bridge and Nicky Hatch were both dropped in the slips, but Bridge struck a few forthright blows before being last out for 21.

When Sri Lanka went in Russel Arnold's only runs came from an edge off Hatch before Hunter, more accurate than in recent one-day games, had him caught by Mustard.

Kumar Sangakkara made 19 before clipping Hunter to Gordon Muchall at square leg to make it 19 for two, then Mahela Jayawardene edged the luckless Hatch for four.

Hatch caught him for 28 at mid-on off a miscued pull off Symington, bringing in Aravinda De Silva, who remained unbeaten on ten and will hope for a little sunshine to help him brighten the gloom today

Read more about Durham here.