DURHAM City’s Racecourse ground in springtime is one of those rare delights where, from most vantage points, it is possible to believe there are still a few havens where time stands still.

Reminders of endless tinkering are never for away, however, as with Durham University now being known as Durham MCCU and the ground’s ends being re-christened Cathedral and Hollow Drift, as opposed to City and Pavilion.

Perhaps the biggest change since Durham launched their first-class life there in 1992 is the appearance of a small gazebo, housing scorer Brian Hunt and performance analyst Phil Dicks with all their hi-tech kit.

Although the ECB claim to be constantly monitoring whether or not these games remain worthy of first-class status, every ball is recorded in detail on a variety of screens, just as in a county championship game.

Durham skipper Will Smith and Gareth Breese both popped in yesterday to study replays of their dismissals – both to the turning ball on a dry square which just over a month ago was too wet to stage a three-day match against Lancashire.

The University captain, Essex’s Tom Westley, took more than two wickets in a first-class innings for the first time with his off breaks in reducing Durham from 169 for one to 324 all out.

Steve Harmison began his comeback from a back injury with five overs for 18 runs as the students replied with 46 for no wicket.

One of their opening batsmen, Seren Waters is with Surrey while opening bowler John Glover, who took five for 38 in this match last year, is with Glamorgan.

As both have yet to make a first team appearance, however, it is safe to assume that they are not as highly-rated as Westley, who played for the MCC against Durham last season.

He was in the Essex team for their first championship match this year but the university pulled rank the following week and he was replaced by Jaik Mickleburgh, who scored 174 against Durham.

Westley is much more of a batsman than a bowler, but he took four for 55 yesterday, while left-arm spinner Dan Gale had four for 94. Both found generous turn but also served up their share of hittable balls.

As has been the case throughout the first weeks of the season, there was nothing in it for the seamers and Durham made a cracking start after Smith won the toss.

Kyle Coetzer hit four fours in the second over off Chris Roper, who had his revenge by nipping one into the batsman to pin him lbw for 22.

Smith and Mark Stoneman then put on 127 before the captain edged Gale to slip for 57, leaving Stoneman to complete his second first-class century three years after the first.

He will be 23 next month, but whether this innings will move him any closer to regaining his first team place will almost certainly depend on the injury situation.

Despite being ill before the start, he cut and drove impressively in making 118 off 153 balls. He departed unluckily when he went for a ball six inches outside his leg stump and was bowled off his front boot, the ball going between his legs to hit off stump.

At least Stoneman upstaged three of his rivals for a batting place, Gordon Muchall, Ben Harmison and Breese. The two right-handers were both caught at backward short leg when playing forward to turning balls from Westley, while Harmison fell lbw to Gale.

Scott Borthwick pulled Westley in front of mid-wicket for a big six on his way to a sprightly 46 before the tail folded rapidly, with reserve wicketkeeper Michael Richardson having the misfortune to be run out for two on his debut.

Scoreboard

MCC UNIVERSITY MATCH

Durham MCCU v Durham At Durham University

Durham First Innings

M D Stoneman b Westley . . . . . . . .118

K J Coetzer lbw b Roper . . . . . . . . . .22

W R Smith c Morgan b Gale . . . . . . .57

G J Muchall c Morgan b Westley . . .12

B W Harmison lbw b Gale . . . . . . . . .21

G R Breese c Morgan b Westley . . . .14

S G Borthwick c Harper b Westley . .46

M J Richardson run out . . . . . . . . . . . .2

M Davies c Atkinson b Gale . . . . . . . . .0

S J Harmison c Waters b Gale . . . . . .7

L Evans not out . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Extras (b1 lb6 w8 nb6 pens 0) 21

Total (93.2 overs) . . . . . . . . .324

Fall: 1-42 2-169 3-227 4-228 5-248 6-284 7-291 8-298 9-314

Bowling: Glover 16-2-65-0. Roper 10-1- 61-1. Harper 12-1-42-0. Gale 35-7-94-4.

Westley 20.2-5-55-4.

Durham MCCU First Innings Close

S R Waters not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

L E Durandt not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Extras (nb2 pens 0) . . . . . . .2

Total 0 wkts (16 overs) . . . .46

To Bat: T Westley, G P Smith, L A Blackaby, J J Atkinson, C F D Morgan, G M Harper, C G W Roper, D J Gale, J C Glover.

Bowling: S J Harmison 5-1-18-0. Davies 3-2-9-0. Evans 2-0-11-0. Breese 3-1-5-0.

Borthwick 3-1-3-0.