County Championship D2, Chester-le-Street, day one (close): Durham 325-9 v Northamptonshire
Gary Pratt scored his maiden first-class century to put Durham in a strong position at Chester-le-Street.
Pratt's 150, scored off 287 balls and including 24 boundaries, overshadowed Mike Cawdron's haul of 6-87 for Northants.
Cawdron was in fine form early on as he single-handedly reduced the hosts to 49-3 in the morning session.
But Pratt found willing partners in Nicky Peng, with whom he shared 70 runs for the fourth wicket, and Vince Wells (30).
Durham were reduced to 308-8 when Cawdron was trapped leg before by Cawdron, but Liam Plunkett was unbeaten on 38 at the close and carrying on the good work.
Durham: J J B Lewis (Capt), M A Gough, G J Muchall, V J Wells, G J Pratt, N Peng, P Mustard (Wkt), Shoaib Akhtar, L E Plunkett, N C Phillips, N G Hatch.
Northamptonshire: M J Powell, M E K Hussey (Capt), P A Jaques, D J G Sales, J W Cook, G P Swann, D G Wright, B J Phillips, T M B Bailey (Wkt), M J Cawdron, J F Brown.