Day 2, Close: Durham 295/4
DURHAM opener Mark Stoneman enhanced his claims for England recognition by converting his 15th first-class century into an unbeaten 139 against Middlesex at Emirates Riverside.
In a strong, biting wind, play was ended 11 balls early by the evening's second snow flurry, but that was Middlesex's only respite on an otherwise uninterrupted day which went Durham's way.
They took the three remaining wickets for the addition of 31 in the morning before replying to Middlesex's 389 with 295 for four.
Steven Finn took three of the wickets, including Ben Stokes for nine, after his opening four overs had cost 30.
He was slightly lucky to end an opening stand of 71 in the 13th over when Keaton Jennings, who had looked in prime form, gloved an attempted pull to wicketkeeper John Simpson.
James Harris suddenly extracted extra bounce from the placid pitch to have Scott Borthwick caught behind, but England Under 19 batsman Jack Burnham then matched Stoneman in a stand of 131.
Stoneman, badly missed by Harris at long leg off Tim Murtagh on 19, scored heavily through backward point. But it was a glorious cover drive off Toby Roland-Jones which took him to his 139-ball century.
Burnham also drove strongly and had the confidence to go down the pitch to Paul Stirling's attempts to bowl off spin.
But an over-ambitious drive at Finn brought Burnham's downfall, lbw for 61, straight after tea.
Stokes managed one scorching drive through extra cover off Finn before an attempted clip to leg off the back foot popped up a catch to mid-wicket.
Michael Richardson provided solid support for Stoneman in the final 24 overs, reaching 31 at the close.
Stokes took two of Middlesex's three remaining wickets in the morning, finishing with four for 80.
Day 2, Tea: Durham 213/2
Mark Stoneman's impressive progress to his 15th first-class century helped Durham to add 130 without losing a wicket in the afternoon session as Middlesex toiled in a howling wind straight off the Arctic.
England Under 19 batsman Jack Burnham initially outpaced his partner in reaching 61, but the left-handed opener was in full flow approaching tea.
A spanking cover drive off Toby Roland-Jones took him to his century off 139 balls in the over before the break.
As the wind gathered strength the umpires had to send for heavier bails, but for the most part it was a sunny afternoon.
Burnham was slightly fortunate when he lofted Roland-Jones just out of long leg's reach, but he confidently drove the next ball through the covers for his ninth four, taking him to 50 off 97 balls.
Day 2, Lunch: Middlesex 389, Durham 87/2.
Durham swiftly polished off the Middlesex tail this morning, then as the biting wind grew stronger Mark Stoneman and Keaton Jennings made swift inroads into the visitors' total of 389.
But after racing to 71 in the 13th over they stumbled slightly to reach lunch on 87 for two.
Stoneman was still there on 41, having been badly missed on 19 by James Harris at long leg off Tim Murtagh.
Following his two centuries against Somerset, Jennings looked in prime form, only to depart for 34 when he gloved an attempted pull to wicketkeeper John Simpson.
That gave a lucky wicket to Steve Finn, who in two overs from each end had conceded 30 runs.
He then tightened up and Harris suddenly found some extra bounce from a good length, having Scott Borthwick caught behind for five.
The temperature had read three degrees C when a sleet shower passed over 40 minutes before the start, and given the cold conditions it was surprising that Ben Stokes found some swing.
Paul Stirling followed his fourth ball of the day to edge to wicketkeeper Michael Richardson after adding three to his overnight 41.
Tim Murtagh tried to glance a leg-side ball from Graham Onions and gloved a catch to the diving Richardson, then the last pair added 21 before Stokes bowled Finn to finish with four for 80. Toby Roland-Jones was unbeaten on 13.
Finn's opening over cost ten as Jennings drove him wide of mid-on then forced him through the covers off the back foot for another four.
