IAN Blackwell yesterday survived a roller-coaster day for Durham to leave them in the ascendancy against Lancashire and said: “We are feeling upbeat about our chances.”

Durham led by 128 on first innings at Riverside after dismissing Lancashire for 116, but when they then crashed to ten for four the match was back in the balance.

That was when Blackwell marched in to reach 65 not out and stretch the lead to 240 with his side on 122 for six at the close.

“It was probably my most important innings for Durham,” he said. “It was nice for me personally to get a hundred in my first match against the MCC at Lord’s, but this was important for the team.

“We were on the back foot, but I went out hoping to play my natural game and get the field changed and put the pressure back on them.”

Blackwell survived a straightforward catch to wicketkeeper Luke Sutton on 18 off Andrew Flintoff and his partner in an unbroken stand of 65, Callum Thorp, was badly dropped by Lancashire captain Glen Chapple.

“I was walking off,” said Blackwell. “It was a regulation catch to Sutton, but sometimes these things happen and I managed to capitalise on it.

“It was good to see off the new ball. It was swinging and when it’s hard the seam movement is more pronounced. It was still swinging at the end, but not as much.

“Chapple is a clever bowler and makes you play at everything.

He tried coming round the wicket to me, but I managed to keep scoring and put him under more pressure.

“Hopefully we can add a few more runs tomorrow and get the lead up above 250. We feel we are in the box seat and if we can beat a top side like Lancashire it will send a message to the rest of the counties.”

On a day when 18 wickets fell, there were none for the first seven overs and none in the final 13, while the first two victims in Lancashire’s innings both felt they were not out.

Paul Horton claimed the ball had brushed his thigh pad when he was given out caught down the leg side by Phil Mustard, while Ashwell Prince seemed to think the ball had struck him too high for an lbw verdict.

Both stood rooted to the crease for several seconds, and Prince seemed to exchange words with a Durham player when he finally departed, but Blackwell said: “I thought they were both out.

“There was a good sound for the Horton appeal and they guys behind the stumps all thought he had touched it.

“Things went our way, but there has been some top-quality bowling in this match.

Freddie Flintoff is hitting his straps and Sajid Mahmood had a point to prove after being overlooked by England.

“Graham Onions has probably out-bowled Steve Harmison, but when the pair of them are operating together it’s really tough for the batsmen.”