Di Venuto leads the way

Left-hander di Venuto struck 53 as the county champions reached 113 for two at tea on a rain-hit opening day of the 2009 season.

Two weather stoppages disrupted play before lunch and delayed the restart of the afternoon session.

England Test batting hopefuls among the representative side had to wait for their chance to impress, after Robert Key won the toss and opted to field in chilly conditions. That meant Michael Vaughan and Ian Bell did not get an immediate opportunity to stake a claim for recalls. However, if Key expected some early assistance for his bowlers on an overcast day it did not transpire in success.

Openers di Venuto, the only Durham batsman to pass 1000 first-class runs in their title-winning season of 2008, and Mark Stoneman began with a century stand.

Australian di Venuto struck boundaries in each of the first three overs, twice cutting hard at Kabir Ali either side of tucking a leg-side delivery from Sajid Mahmood to the rope at fine-leg.

Stoneman, the other half of the north-east county's left-handed opening combination, accumulated his runs at a slower pace initially but took advantage of Kabir over-pitching to on-drive for four in the fifth over. Stoneman had not added to the 20 he had made by the first stoppage when he edged Tim Bresnan to first slip, where Stephen Moore floored a straightforward opportunity.

The rain blew in during Yorkshireman Bresnan's next over, the 16th of the innings, to drive the players from the field once more.

When they returned, di Venuto progressed to his half-century from 67 balls. But he had not added to his score when a push at Bresnan, a late replacement for Middlesex pace bowler Steve Finn, offered Bell a slip catch.

All-rounder Bresnan then dismissed Stoneman on the verge of tea for 49 with a delivery which beat the outside edge and clipped off-stump.