DURHAM need either more rain or a renaissance today to prevent their promotion stroll turning into a scramble.

They were backed into a tight corner yesterday by some stubborn batting from Derbyshire, who recovered from 64 for four to reach 288 for seven, a lead of 58, before play was halted by bad light which descended into pitch darkness by 6pm.

The thunderstorm which followed quickly swamped the field and if today's play is curtailed Durham might not have enough time to mount a winning fightback.

When they were 24 points clear at the top of division two after recording their sixth win at Taunton, it seemed they could afford to stumble and still clinch promotion by beating hapless Derbyshire at home in their penultimate game.

But the visitors have played well. This was the fourth time they have achieved a first-innings lead and there have been two other occasions when they have got into a winning position without being able to get across the line.

It was not that Durham bowled badly yesterday. In fact, there was a time in the morning when Liam Plunkett and Neil Killeen looked capable of running through the opposition.

But the ball kept beating the bat as Australian duo Chris Bassano and Jon Moss dug in and in the final half hour before lunch runs began to flow.

Killeen had figures of 11-6-8-1 at the break, but his six overs straight afterwards cost 26. At the other end Plunkett also bowled six overs, which cost only five runs, but once his threat had been repelled the two batsmen really began to cash in on their diligent work.

While neither has had a distinguished county career, both have made runs at Riverside before. Bassano scored 70 not out to secure a four-wicket win in 2001 and hit 57 in this season's C & G Trophy victory, while Moss made 147 not out last season.

Both were very adept at working the ball between mid-on and mid-wicket and Bassano was aiming in that area when a ball from acting captain Paul Collingwood took out his off stump for 87.

The stand was worth 148 in 49 overs, which was a very respectable scoring rate considering that for their first hour together the cricket had been extremely attritional.

Brad Williams took his first two championship wickets, but fellow Australian Callum Thorp is still waiting for his first, although he was unlucky when Bassano edged him through the slips for four on 33.

Plunkett quickly saw off nightwatchman Andy Gray then Williams had Hassan Adnan comfortably caught at second slip by the other Australian newcomer Jimmy Maher.

With the ball moving around it seemed the next wicket could not be far away but Derbyshire, who have been something of a bogey team for Durham in recent seasons, were not willing to lie down.

The pressure on the batsmen eased slightly when Thorp replaced Plunkett. Although he swung the ball, his lack of pace meant that only when he pitched in exactly the right spot did he cause problems.

Moss drove Killeen wide of mid-on for four after lunch to take him to 42 out of the 100 stand in 32 overs.

A back-foot four through the covers off the same bowler completed Moss's half-century off 118 balls, 12 quicker than his partner.

The stand was finally ended when Collingwood took out Bassano's off stump after he had made a season's best 87.

As skipper Luke Sutton then took up the resistance, Moss gave his only chance on 75 when he skied a pull off Williams and Gordon Muchall raced in 20 yards from deep mid-wicket but couldn't hang on to his diving effort.

The scores were level at the time and at 263 for five at tea Derbyshire were well placed, 33 ahead. But the new ball was due and Durham used it to good effect, Plunkett nipping one back to bowl Moss for 92 before Williams removed Graeme Welch in the next over.

It was a rare failure against his native county for Welch, who went for a duck when he shouldered arms and had his off bail trimmed.

Durham would have fancied their chances of polishing off their visitors, but Sutton was still there on 42 when the light closed in.

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