After being in control at the crease at 222-6, Durham were destroyed by Derbyshire paceman Mark Footitt who ripped through the middle and lower order with Durham losing 5-31 late on Day 1 to make 253 in their first innings against Derbyshire.
Earlier in the day, on a foggy morning in Chester-le-Street bottom placed Derbyshire won the toss and elected to bowl, sending third placed Durham in to bat on their home pitch.
Just ten minutes into the morning Durham lost their first wicket with stand in skipper Mark Stoneman picking out Johnson at mid-on to depart for 3 with Mark Footitt giving the visitors the perfect start to the match.
Young duo Keaton Jennings and Scott Borthwick then looked steady at the crease with the two beginning to build the Durham tally before Borthwick was trapped for 22 lbw by a good delivery giving Footitt and Derbyshire their second wicket to leave the hosts 52-2.
Jennings continued at the crease and was joined by Will Smith with the pair finding some good rhythm as the clouds cleared and the sun came through. The two got Durham past 100 just after the lunch break and took their partnership past 50.
It wasn’t long after this milestone that Jennings posted his half century, coming off 116 balls with four boundaries with the young opener looking poised and in control at the crease.
However just as the pair looked steady their partnership came to an end in the 41st over when Smith departed for 43, ending a 70 run stand as he drove to slips to give Groenewald his first wicket.
Just two over later, Groenewald picked up his second wicket when Richardson edged through to the keeper for just 5 leaving Durham 132-4.
Jennings continued at the crease and found another partner in Phil Mustard who was also playing some good strokes and enjoying the warm conditions out in the middle.
The two combined for another 50 run partnership in the Durham innings, following on from the good form earlier shown by Jennings and Smith to see Durham past 200.
They carried on with some fine shot making until Jennings was dismissed 7 runs shy of his maiden County Championship century, Durson trapping him lbw for 93. It was a fantastic innings from Jennings who batting out the majority of the day in warm, sunny conditions.
His wicket also ended a 90-run stand between Jennings and Mustard who surpassed 50 two overs later with his half century including 8 fours.
Mustard then combined with Breese to add 18 runs before a remarkable over from Mark Footitt destroyed the Durham innings with 3 wickets in 5 balls.
He first dismissed Breese for 16 with Clare taking a nice catch in the slips and then struck not long after getting the big wicket of Mustard for 52 with Clare again taking the catch.
The next ball he had Thorp lbw and Durham found themselves going from a strong position to 241-9 with an hour left in the day.
The last two added 12 runs until Chris Rushworth was clean bowled giving Footitt his 6th wicket and figures of 6-53, Mark Wood unbeaten on 4*.
There were 8 overs left in Day one and Durham got the perfect start when Chris Rushworth trapped Hughes lbw with the umpire very quick to raise his finger on just the second ball of the Derbyshire innings.
Derbyshire skipper Wayne Madsen 13* and Richard Johnson 2* batted out the remaining overs however to see them finish on 15-1at the close of play.
Scorecard: Day 1 vs Derbyshire