Derbyshire 283 (du Plooy 122, Dal 90, Rushworth 7-44) and 19 for 2 lead Durham 296 (Mackintosh 51, Pettman 3-40, Thomson 3-48) by six runs

However, Mackintosh led the way with 51 as he and the tail provided 154 for the final three wickets. Chris Rushworth, Ben Raine and Stanley McAlindon offered usual cameos to propel Durham into a narrow lead.

There was time for Rushworth to make inroads into the Derbyshire ranks before the close, leaving the visitors 19 for 2 at stumps, six runs ahead of the home side heading into day three of the contest.

Derbyshire were on their mettle from the off with the ball to make immediate inroads into the Durham line-up. Ben Aitchison dismissed England opener Alex Lees on his return to the county ranks lbw for only 7, which sparked an early-morning collapse.

Pettman was on the money with his line and length to produce a snorter to remove nightwatch Matt Salisbury before Durham skipper Scott Borthwick left a straight delivery to lose his off stump for 13. Sam Conners prised out Michael Jones, who played a loose drive to a wide ball and was snagged by Aitchison at first slip, reducing Durham to 38 for 4.

David Bedingham found his feet at the crease and looked fluent, combining with debutant Nic Maddinson to steady the ship with a stand of 72 for the fifth wicket.

However, the Durham innings followed the same pattern as Derbyshire’s as the two set batters were dismissed quickly after lunch. Both Bedingham and Maddinson fell in the same manner, being caught down the leg side by Brooke Guest to Aitchison and Pettman respectively.

Liam Trevaskis opted for an aggressive approach to dig Durham out of trouble, blasting offspinner Alex Thomson for four and a six over his head, but a third attempt cost him his wicket for 30.

Mackintosh and Raine stabilised the Durham innings and pushed the score beyond 200 to secure the hosts’ first batting point. Raine looked well set at the crease to record another knock of fifty plus, but his aggression against Thomson resulted in a simple catch for Wayne Madsen.

Mackintosh was not deterred by Raine’ departure and displayed maturity beyond his years by grinding out his maiden first-class half-century before being bowled by Conners for 51.

Rushworth and Stanley McAlindon defied the Derbyshire attack for the final wicket, with the No. 11 producing an aggressive knock of 33 from 27 balls to steer the hosts into an unlikely 13-run lead. It was the highest stand for the 10th wicket for Durham against Derbyshire, and provided a more than useful second batting point.

And, Rushworth used the momentum from his batting display to make two strikes into the visitors’ line-up, removing captain Billy Godleman and nightwatch Conners before the close.

“It has been a nice start to the game,” Mackintosh said. “It was a proud moment today to get my first runs and to top it off with a couple of catches at the end was pleasing.

“It was a good partnership between myself and Ben Raine. Batting with him was good because when you’re making your debut there are not many players better to be out there with than him. Stanley McAlindon batted really well with Chris Rushworth at the end of the day to give us that lead and to get those two wickets made it a good end to the day.

“The game has turned into a last-innings effort. If we get a couple of early wickets on Wednesday, it will put us in a great position to chase.”