Marcus Harris‘ second century of the season for Lancashire defied Durham‘s pursuit for wickets on an enthralling first day of their Rothesay County Championship Division Two clash.

An evenly-matched morning session was played out between the sides, as Durham took three Lancashire scalps despite a series of dropped catches, with Harris one of the beneficiaries. The Australian then cashed in across the afternoon and passed three figures in first-class cricket for the 35th time during the evening session, but wickets kept tumbling at the other end, with Ben Raine picking up three of them as Durham chipped away.

However, Harris remained unbeaten on 135 and Lancashire reached close on 356 for 7 to give the visitors the edge after day one.

Lancashire were put into bat by Durham at the toss under sunny skies at the Banks Homes Riverside and the visitors got off to a fast start, but Matthew Potts struck back for the hosts as George Balderson nicked one to second slip. Durham soon got their second as Josh Bohannon thrashed Sam Conners‘ first ball of the season straight to Potts at cover.

Conners continued to cause problems, beating the bats of Keaton Jennings and Harris on numerous occasions, but the Lancashire pair kept their wickets intact while taking run-scoring opportunities when they arose.

Jennings was then dropped twice on 26 as Kasey Aldridge failed to cling on to an edge from a Raine delivery at second slip and David Bedingham dropped him at third slip after Conners found the outside edge.

Harris was then given a second life which Durham would come to rue as Ollie Robinson dropped him on 22 after he nicked a Raine delivery. However, at the other end, Jennings’ luck ran out as he chopped on to his stumps at the hands of Aldridge.

After lunch, former Durham man Michael Jones departed after edging a Conners delivery to third slip. But the ever-reliable Harris remained and he passed fifty for the third time this season.

Matty Hurst joined Harris and consolidated for Lancashire in the afternoon, with the former looking to keep the scoreboard ticking over, hitting the first six of the match, and Harris continued to accumulate. A fifth wicket then arrived for the hosts as Hurst’s handy knock came to an end, lbw to Raine. Conners very nearly had a third, as Arav Shetty feathered one down the leg side, but a juggling Robinson couldn’t cling on.

Raine then struck with the final ball before tea as Shetty was caught behind. Harris and Paul Coughlin, coming up against his former employers, resumed after tea and they took Lancashire into bonus point territory.

Harris reached his century with a single on the leg side and was leading his side to a competitive total along with Coughlin.

Durham turned to the second new ball to bring them a wicket and it did as Raine sent Coughlin’s stumps flying. However, Lancashire then passed 300, picking up a second bonus point, as Tom Bailey looked to be the latest to support Harris. The tailender held firm, as Harris accumulated more runs which included a delightful cover drive to the boundary.

Lancashire managed to tick up their third bonus point and they safely negotiated the final overs of the day, concluding it on 356 for 7.