Durham CCC closed the day on 426 for 9 after an entertaining open day at the Emirates Durham ICG.
Dale Benkenstein, captaining the side while Paul Collingwood’s recovery continues, won the toss and elected to bat.
A cold overcast day made batting difficult as the day began and good bowling form the student opposition earned some early rewards with Rory Cox taking the early wickets of Mark Stoneman (19) and Will Smith (2). Keaton Jennings was bowled by Matthew Green for 13 and when Ben Stokes joined Dale Benkenstein at the crease, Durham CCC were 40 for 3.
The pair steadied the ship, adding 86 before Dale fell to a ball from Freddie van den Bergh for 34. Michael Richardson joined Stokes and hit an entertaining 29 with two big sixes before being bowled by Charlie Wallis.
Ben Stokes, however, was now in imperious command, going on to score the first century of this 21st anniversary year before falling for 111 (11 fours, five sixes) to provide Rory Cox with his third victim.
Phil Mustard and Scott Borthwick continued the good work, with the Colonel moving on to 60 before being caught by Hobson off Green. Callum Thorp added 10 and with the score at 350 for 8, Graham Onions joined Scott to signal an exciting end to the day. To the enormous disappointment of the supporting crowd, Borthwick fell to what proved to be the last ball of the day, bowled by Luke Patel for a heart-breaking 99 (8 fours, three sixes).