Jon Lewis could have hardly chosen a better time to produce one of his most productive innings of the summer after leading Durham into action in their Championship clash against Essex at Colchester.

Up against his former county - he parted company with Essex at the end of the 1996 season - the 34-year-old opener held the visiting innings together on a rain-interrupted day with an unbeaten 74 that carried his side to 170 for six from 68 overs.

He had his moments of good fortune. The outside edge of his bat was passed more than once by Darren Gough and Ashley Cowan with the new ball.

And James Middlebrook failed to hold on to a sharp catch at cover pointed immediately Lewis had posted his 50.

But no one could fault Lewis's iron resolve which has so far brought him 11 boundaries in an innings spanning 182 deliveries.

And it was one that certainly shored up Durham after he had elected to bat on winning the toss.

The action did not start until after an early lunch, so saturated was the ground following overnight rain.

The early hostility of Gough and Cowan meant that Lewis and Gareth Breese had to fight for every run, the latter managing just two scoring strokes from his first 35 balls and needing another 12 to move into double figures.

Having done so, he produced some splendid offside drives and had collected six boundaries in his 34 before Cowan, returning for another spell following a short stoppage for rain, had him well caught at third slip by Andre Adams.

That breakthrough came with the total on 60 and Essex were soon celebrating further successes.

Gordon Muchall was superbly caught by a diving James Foster to provide Cowan with another victim, before Gough removed Marcus North to leave Durham 77 for three.

But Kyle Coetzer arrived to help Lewis halt the slump by sharing in a stand of 58. Coetzer had contributed exactly half towards it when he was dismissed leg before without offering a shot against Danish Kaneria.

Published Thursday August 19, 2004

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