Durham’s top order simply failed to get going with the exception of opener Mark Stoneman, while for once the middle order and Dale Benkenstein could not prevent Durham’s innings from crashing.

Will Smith never really settled before playing a dreadful shot wide outside off stump to Oliver Newby and, having moved to within touching distance of a first Championship half century for the second game running, Stoneman followed him just two balls later for 45.

The youngster from Whickham clearly has talent and some of his shots early on against the new ball were breathtaking, but Durham need him to convert the starts he builds for himself or he will be in danger of becoming just another one of their nearly men with the bat.

Durham were starting to teeter on 100-3 at lunch and things got worse in the afternoon session as two delays for rain made concentration tricky and rhythm impossible.

Gordon Muchall went for 18, snapped up by a brilliant catch from Francois du Plessis to give Sajid Mahmood his second wicket, before Chapple caused havoc.

Making the most of whatever swing he could muster, Lancashire’s Mr Reliable took 3-37 in 18 overs, including the prize wicket of Benkenstein for 26.

Earlier, Ian Blackwell lost his bearings shortly upon returning to the wicket after a downpour and lost his middle stump while Calum Thorp was beaten by a ball which moved sharply away from him with Paul Horton taking the catch in the slips.

Flintoff was not finished either.

He returned to the attack as the dark clouds closed in, sprayed the first delivery down leg side for four wides to hand Durham a batting bonus point and then removed Mitch Claydon with the second. Rusty but still sharp.