Durham started 82-2 on day three after a solid day with the bat and ball on day two.
Scott Borthwick and Will Smith resumed at the crease and took it in their stride to add to the Durham tally and took a fancy to the Derbyshire bowlers in the first session.
Both were looking composed and in control at the crease and both raised their bats for half centuries whilst getting the Durham tally past 200.
It wasn’t until half hour before tea when Derbyshire were able to break the strong partnership with Borthwick picking out Groenewald off Chanderpaul, the number three falling just 11 runs short of another LVCC century this season to depart for a well-made 89.
Borthwick’s wicket saw the end of a 159 run stand and it was just eight overs later when his partner Will Smith became the fourth Durham wicket to fall as he edged to second slip with replacement fielder Knight taking a sharp catch off the bowling of Footitt, Durham four wickets down at the tea break.
Michael Richardson and Paul Collingwood then had the job at the crease after the tea break. However it wasn’t long into the final session of the day when bad light forced players off the field with the rain hitting not long after.
The bad weather then settled in and play was called off for the day just before 5pm.
Durham will be looking for more runs on the final day tomorrow where it is also hoped the rain stays away.