Phil cuts the Mustard for Durham

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Skipper Phil Mustard leads from the front with an unbeaten 117 as Durham enjoy the better of the opening day against leaders Notts

Skipper Phil Mustard struck his fourth LV= County Championship century as Durham took the spoils on day one of their clash with leaders Nottinghamshire at the Emirates Durham ICG.

The wicketkeeper shared an unbroken stand of 159 with Scott Borthwick to take his side to 347 for six at the close.

Mustard finished 117 not out, his highest score since making 130 in the first match of the 2006 season at Canterbury.

Notts went into the game 16 points clear of reigning champions Durham, with three matches left and a game in hand on their only realistic challengers, Somerset and Yorkshire.

And they started well, reducing the hosts to 76 for four, before half-centuries from Mark Stoneman and Ian Blackwell laid the platform for Mustard’s effort.

The second 50 in the captain’s 131-ball ton came off just 34 balls and included 10 fours as he and Borthwick swept into overdrive against the new ball.

On 82, Mustard hit three successive fours off Luke Fletcher, before adding two more off Ryan Sidebottom to bring up his hundred.

Sidebottom, who will leave after tomorrow to join the England’s Twenty20 squad, grew increasingly exasperated as he failed to add to the prized scalp of Michael Di Venuto, whom he removed in the first over.

Having an appeal for caught behind turned down when Mustard was on 22, the left-arm seamer endured the misery of seeing Borthwick, who had yet to score, shelled by Chris Read.

Borthwick, who could have been run out for 26, equalled his best of 54 as his wristy style troubled the visiting bowlers.

Earlier, Fletcher swung the ball away to have Gordon Muchall caught at gully as Durham’s early struggles made Mustard’s decision to bat first look questionable.

Andre Adams then had Dale Benkenstein caught behind in his first over and surprised both Stoneman and Blackwell with his skiddy pace.

Full-length balls had Stoneman lbw for 67 and bowled Blackwell for 59, both playing across the line.

The other wicket went to Paul Franks, Ben Harmison caught behind for two after replacing Ben Stokes, who has a foot injury.