DURHAM'S promotion march was marred by a recurrence of Ashley Noffke's back trouble yesterday.

It wrecked their chances of a two-day win against Derbyshire, whose dire position was transformed in the evening by a brilliant century from Michael Di Venuto.

The Tasmanian left-hander's fourth hundred against Durham came off only 113 balls and he was still there at the close on 112 out of 191 for two, with his side only 19 behind.

When they enforced the follow-on after dismissing the apparently hapless hosts for 161, Durham took the field without Noffke, who was sent to hospital for a scan on a suspected stress fracture.

The Queenslander has a long history of back trouble and was absent for the first five weeks of the season as well as being rested during the Twenty20 Cup.

Noffke was missed as Di Venuto set about the younger bowlers and increased his onslaught against Paul Collingwood and Dale Benkenstein. He went to his hundred by taking ten off an over from the latter, reaching the landmark with a fierce square drive.

With two days left, Durham should still win on a good pitch if they remove Di Venuto quickly this morning and Mike Hussey's championship record as captain will then read: played six, won five, drawn one.

Apart from his general expertise, both as batsman and captain, Hussey has brought a welcome change of fortune to Durham and luck was again on their side yesterday as Derbyshire had to bat in murky conditions. The fact that the murk lifted just as the follow-on was enforced clearly played a part in Derbyshire's revival.

Hassan Adnan, who was the mainstay of their batting last season but has been in poor form this year, contributed 42 to an unbroken stand of 109 with Di Venuto.

Durham's four-pronged seam attack took merciless advantage of the conditions in the first half of the day, helped by a good deal of inadequate batting.

Mark Davies took his season's tally of championship wickets to 41 with the remarkable figures of three for four in 6.1 overs, with his golden arm striking in the first over of both his spells.

Luck played a part in the first instance as his first-ball loosener was down the leg side, but Di Venuto followed it and gave a catch to Phil Mustard.

Davies hung his head in embarrassment, but there was nothing wrong with the ball in his third over which lured Jon Moss into a walking drive and clipped his off stump.

Graeme Welch, as ever, battled to mount a recovery from the depths of 69 for five but in his second spell after lunch Davies moved one away to take the edge and see him off for 40.

The innings shuddered to a shambolic close shortly afterwards when the hosts' other Durham-born player, Ian Hunter, set off for a run, changed his mind and ran out last man Nick Walker.

There were also three wickets for Liam Plunkett, although he initially bowled too many leg-side balls at the left-hander openers, Di Venuto and Steve Stubbings.

They put on 29 without much difficulty until Noffke produced an excellent ball, leaving Stubbings to have him caught by Hussey. The captain hasn't missed a thing all season at second slip and pouched two more before the day was out.

Gareth Breese also held a good one at third slip and there were three first-innings catches for Mustard, although his general untidiness added to the impression that he is starting to flag, which is not unusual for a young wicketkeeper also expected to make runs.

Plunkett began the afternoon session by pitching one up to have Zimbabwean Travis Friend caught by Hussey, but then bowled too short to Welch, who pulled and cut him for several boundaries.

Plunkett then had another reward for bowling a fuller length when Luke Sutton shaped to turn him to mid-wicket and fell lbw.

Plunkett and Graham Onions opened up in the second innings and the score reached 64 before Breese came on for one over before tea.

Although he bowled again in the evening, Durham's slow over-rate meant they had to play half an hour's overtime and might need to step up the rate this morning if they are to avoid a points deduction.

Stubbings helped Di Venuto take the score to 82 before Onions struck twice in three balls, Hussey making another catch look easy before Ben France played all round a ball which hit his off stump.

There was little sign, however, of breaking the third-wicket stand with Davies being sparingly used as Durham continued their policy of wrapping him in cotton wool.

Noffke had shaped well with the bat in the morning, but Durham added only eight to their overnight 363 for nine before Onions sliced a drive to backward point.

Read more about Durham here.