THE only damage Durham suffered on the final session of their County Championship match at Sussex came to Michael Di Venuto's left hand.
The Australian opener badly injured his index finger dropping a catch against Nottinghamshire in the Riversiders' first four-day match of August, and has struggled with it since. He did not bat in the second innings of that game, and has been shielded from a number of one-day matches.
He took a blow in practice for this match, and another from Wayne Parnell in it, forcing Di Venuto to retire hurt on two.
Fortunately for Durham, they have three openers in their line-up at present, and first-innings centurion Mark Stoneman joined Will Smith to make sure the side did not suffer without him.
At the close the visitors had reached 93-0, 86 of them coming from their partnership.
Naturally the more circumspect of the pair, Smith dominated the strike and the scoring, clearing the pavilion when he leaned back and hooked Parnell to cause the umpires to send for a replacement ball.
It was Smith who brought up the 50 partnership when he hit Monty Panesar for four through the legside. It had come off exactly 16 overs.
Two half-chances followed, Smith cutting just short of Luke Wells at point, and Stoneman flashing wildly over slips. Smith had 42, his partner half that at the time of their aberations.
Ex-captain Smith, whose form made Newcastle-born Stoneman wait six weeks for his recall after recovering from a badly broken hand, made his 50 off 98 deliveries with eight fours to go along with his six, the last of them a beautiful cut to take him to his half-century.
Smith finished the day 54 not out, while Stoneman will resume tomorrow on 30. Durham's lead at the end of the day was 247.
On a day when Championship leaders Lancashire have been soundly beaten by relegation-threatened Worcestershire, and fourth-placed Somerset are struggling badly at doomed Hampshire, Durham extended their bonus points tally for the game to seven. They are not giving up this title chase without a fight.
For a full report of day two, see The Journal on Friday morning.
