Ricardo Vasconcelos stole the headlines from Ben Stokes as the opener hit a magnificent unbeaten century on the opening day of a crucial Rothesay County Championship clash between Division Two pace-setters Durham and Northamptonshire.

The day belonged to second-placed Northamptonshire, despite table-toppers Durham having England captain Stokes in their ranks, after he was omitted from the Test squad to face New Zealand following his involvement in a nightclub incident with team-mate Gus Atkinson.

Vasconcelos, who was dropped by Ben McKinney off the bowling of Stokes early in his innings, was positive and fluent in making a third century of the season, while his skipper Luke Procter chipped in with 58 in an opening stand worth 191.

A double-wicket over from Ben Raine was the catalyst for a Durham fightback as they took three quick wickets. However, Vasconcelos found a new partner in the form of Saif Zaib, who made 61, and the visitors set a platform for an imposing first-innings total, closing on 388 for 6.

Durham won the toss and elected to bowl first at Banks Homes Riverside, but Northamptonshire got off to a solid start, with openers Procter and Vasconcelos making it through the first half-hour without loss.

Stokes’ first involvement in the game came in the 11th over, and he very nearly had the breakthrough with his fourth ball, but McKinney dropped Vasconcelos at leg slip on 13. That was the only wicket-taking chance that Durham created early on, with Procter and Vasconcelos starting to find run-scoring easier as the new ball got softer.

Durham stemmed that flow with a run of maidens, but Vasconcelos broke the pressure with two boundaries from a Kasey Aldridge over. The left-handed opener then passed 50 to leave the visitors in a healthy position at lunch. The patient Procter then followed suit with a half-century of his own.

Much to Durham’s relief the rain came and there was a pause in proceedings during the afternoon session with an early tea taken, but Vasconcelos continued his excellent knock into three figures.

After waiting so long for a breakthrough, Durham then got two in one over, with Raine having Procter caught behind and Calvin Harrison lbw.

Despite the wickets, Vasconcelos remained and he continued to make Durham pay for dropping him, as he pulled a Raine delivery to the boundary and he followed that up with a delightful straight drive.

Will Rhodes was then brought into the attack as Durham hunted further inroads and he had an immediate impact as he got Nathan McSweeney caught behind after the Australian strangled one down the leg side. Durham nearly had a fourth as Zaib edged a Matthew Potts delivery in the direction of second slip, but the usually reliable Aldridge couldn’t cling on, and the exact same thing happened a couple of overs later, with Zaib getting another life.

Vasconcelos was dropped yet again, this time by Ollie Robinson dropped behind the stumps, after the left-hander edged a Callum Parkinson delivery.

Zaib was beginning to make the most of his reprieves too, with the allrounder sweeping two Parkinson deliveries to the boundary. The Northamptonshire No. 5 notched a half-century for the third time this season to deepen Durham’s woe.

However, McKinney picked up his maiden first-class wicket with his part-time spin, as Zaib was caught behind down the leg side.

Vasconcelos put the cherry on top of his day as he passed 150, but Raine saw off the dangerous James Sales as he sent his stumps flying. Vasconcelos’ vigil continued as he whipped a Raine ball to the leg-side boundary, but Stokes finally struck late on as George Bartlett was caught at second slip.

The visitors reached close without further loss, with Vasconcelos unbeaten on 181.