THE firecrackers from the mock naval battle on the lake in nearby Peasholm Park were as powerful as ever yesterday, but the cricket at Scarborough was a damp squib.

The first of three showers which interrupted play arrived at 12.30, and the third, at 3pm, was heavy enough to prevent a resumption.

In 33.3 overs Durham advanced from 140 for one to 260 for three and the best both sides can hope for is maximum bonus points, plus the four for a draw.

With second-placed Essex, who are 1.5 points ahead of Yorkshire, also being hampered by the weather at Colchester, neither of the Scarborough rivals will want to risk defeat by trying to contrive a result in this match.

Given two fine days there is time for both teams to score 400, although Durham will hope to restrict the Tykes to fewer than that after noting some assistance in the pitch yesterday.

Deon Kruis had Paul Collingwood caught at third slip off the first ball of the day and Tim Bresnan swung one in to have Mike Hussey lbw for 92.

Both bowlers were unlucky not to enjoy further success as Yorkshire's early bowling was far better than on the previous day.

Gordon Muchall led a charmed life, but remained unflappable as he survived to make 42, while Dale Benkenstein continued his superb season with an unbeaten 59.

In the 21 balls bowled between the second and third showers Benkenstein scored 18 runs, completing his seventh half-century off 85 balls with his eighth four.

He clipped the next ball from Kruis to the mid-wicket boundary to bring up the 100 stand and then edged just short of second slip.

He also had a close shave on 39 when, with the frustrated Kruis banging in a series of short balls, he bottom-edged a hook just short of wicketkeeper Simon Guy.

Otherwise Benkenstein's blend of watchfulness and well-chosen strokes kept him on course to join Hussey in completing 1,000 runs.

He needs a further 136, while Collingwood still needs 36 after driving at the first ball just wide of off stump, only to find it moved away late to take the edge.

It left Kruis needing two wickets to become the first bowler for two years to take 50 in the championship for Yorkshire, but despite an impressive spell he was out of luck. Bresnan also found movement away from the bat in the opening half hour and both bowlers beat Muchall several times.

Even John Blain, who provided little more than cannon fodder the previous day, forced Muchall to slice just out of gully's reach when he came on for the day's 18th over.

But Muchall's luckiest escape came on 28 when he tried to hook Blain and skied the ball into space at square leg.

The batsman celebrated by pulling and cutting Kruis for two fours in the next over as Yorkshire persevered with seam.

Off-spinner Richard Dawson has yet to bowl on a grassier pitch than the one on which Gareth Breese took ten wickets last season. Durham's four seamers will relish their chance, but are unlikely to have enough time to force a win.