Durham v Derbyshire day 2

Durham 96 and 155-6 (Latham 67, Olivier 3-51)

Derbyshire 205

Durham lead by 46 runs

The Derbyshire tail wagged with sufficient vigour today to take the first innings past 200, gathering a bonus point en route, as well as a first innings lead of over three figures. Not by any means massive, but in the context of the game so far fairly substantial.

Tony Palladino was first out, caught behind when trying to leave the ball, before Alfie Gleadall continued the positive impression he made on the first day with more pleasing strokes on his way to an impressive, unbeaten 27. The innings and the composed way in which he batted suggested he will not long be at number ten in the line up. Besides an array of attacking shots, his cover drive being the pick of them, he has a sound defence and good footwork. One to watch.

When Durham went in again, Tom Latham adopted a more positive mentality than in the first innings and passed his first innings score in the first over. He was missed by Alex Hughes at second slip from Hardus Viljoen's first ball, the latter bowling better lines than Olivier early on.

Cameron Steel didn't open, after a blow on the arm in the first innings, and Michael Jones was clanged on the helmet by a skiddy bouncer from Olivier. Otherwise they progressed serenely, Latham looking secure, before Viljoen's yorker, once again, was too much for a batsman, Jones beaten for pace and losing his middle stump, almost his left foot.

Another tough opportunity to remove Latham was missed when Smit failed to get his fingers under a nick that was dropping short of slip and Palladino, the unlucky bowler, caused problems with a probing line and length. But aside from a stoppage when Latham became the latest to be struck on the helmet in the game, there was no further breakthrough for Derbyshire before lunch.

The bowling hadn't carried the same edge as the first innings and, with Durham 47-1, the afternoon looked like being the game's pivotal session.

As the score reached 84 with no further wickets falling, the teams were slowly moving back to parity, but Godleman's captaincy showed initiative in bringing on Alex Hughes, who induced a false shot for Clark to be caught by Brodrick at point. As so often happens, a second wicket fell quickly, Viljoen again too quick as Smith lobbed another up to Brodrick for a simple catch.

Harte came in and battled well alongside Latham, but the Kiwi's gutsy innings came to an end when Olivier was brought back and moved one away, Madsen taking a sharp catch at slip above his head. Then Smit, who had a torrid time with some wayward deliveries from Viljoen and Gleadall, held a fine diving catch down the legside to remove Davies, again off Olivier.

When the same bowler got Coughlin leg before, the pendulum had swung our way, but heavy clouds were gathering around the ground and spots of rain as the players went off for tea were followed by a deluge during the interval.

At 5.30pm, the rain still coming down heavily, it was time for me to go - there appeared little likelihood of any further play today, Yet the forecast for the next two days is good and Derbyshire SHOULD finish this game off tomorrow.

There's always that question mark, that fragility about our batting, butting from here we shouldn't be chasing more than a hundred. The lead is only 46 and there's not much batting to come.

Surely...?