DURHAM endured a frustrating morning on the third day of their County Championship match with Nottinghamshire.

Light drizzle delayed the start with the Riversiders on 6-0, a lead of 96.

But the players were only off the field for 15 minutes.

Will Smith and Gordon Muchall added 15 runs in six overs - half of them came from successive balls from the edge of Smith's bat, the opener nicking to the boundary between slips and gully.

Smith had 15 and Muchall six when the players were forced off by rain, which this time was very heavy.

The umpires called an early lunch at 12.45pm to allow the drying-up operation to begin in earnest.

For a full report of whatever cricket takes place today, read Friday's Journal.