Ian Blackwell and King Darius of Persia

Durham 171 for 5 (53 overs). Blackwell 63, Mustard 23.

The first half-century stand of the innings has been posted and could prove highly important in what could be a low-scoring game. Blackwell is far from fluent but reached 50 from 74 balls. Mustard is playing a shrewd captain's innings.

Carter has come back on for a second spell and is still shaping the ball nicely outside off-stump. Imran Tahir is on at the Lumley Castle End, obtaining little spin this early in the match but testing the batsmen with flight and variation.

Imran's next wicket will take him to 38 in the championship, more than any Bears bowler took in the whole of last season.

The origins of mustard date back to 460 BC and the pioneering Greek physician Hippocrates. An early reference to a potent nature of the mustard seed came in an exchange between King Darius of Persia and the young Alexander the Great. Darius gave Alexander a sack of sesame seed to represent the number of his army. Alexander returned the compliment with a sack of mustard seeds to symbolise both the number and the fiery nature of his army.