DURHAM were out of luck in losing the toss at home to championship leaders Middlesex, but otherwise things went their way this morning.

They were put in and lost Mark Stoneman, caught behind for five, with the total on seven. But Keaton Jennings and Scott Borthwick have taken the score to 100 for one at lunch.

Jennings had a double stroke of fortune on 25, when he edged a straightforward catch off Toby Roland-Jones to Sam Robson at second slip. Robson not only dropped it but parried it on to the helmet lying on the ground behind the wicketkeeper, resulting in five runs being added to the total.

Borthwick also enjoyed a slice of luck when he drove at James Harris and edged a four over third slip, otherwise both played solidly as the Middlesex seamers struggled to find the movement they would have expected.

London-born Tim Murtagh was unavailable, having opted to take up his qualification for Ireland through his grandparents. He is playing in two one-day internationals against Pakistan in Dublin this week.

Work has just begun on laying the foundations for more permanent seating next to the scoreboard, which will be ready for the Ashes Test in August.

Durham’s foundations for this innings are already laid with the two young left-handers leaving whatever they didn’t need to play at as well as playing some fine shots and running well between the wickets. Borthwick’s pulling has been particularly impressive, helping him to 46 with Jennings on 36.