MARK Stoneman's half-century was the highlight of a curious first morning between Yorkshire and Durham.
Although the totting up has not been done yet, Scarborough officials are confident of the biggest County Championship crowd anywhere this season on a sunny day by the coast.
The entertainment has lived up to the top-of-the-table billing, although the only pattern to the session was its unpredictability.
The ball swung early on after Durham won the toss and batted, but only briefly.
Runs then came in a flood, before slowing to a trickle.
The only batsman to really prosper was Stoneman, who made 50 of the first 80 runs scored. He reached his half-century off just 70 deliveries, with nine fours.
The Riversiders lost two batsman for ducks three balls apart in Ryan Sidebottom's second over.
The delivery which had Keaton Jennings lbw looked like it may just have been going down legside but two balls later Scott Borthwick padded up to one which was much straighter. Durham were 5-2.
Sidebottom and Jack Brooks found some swing early in their opening spells, but it soon disappeared.
Stoneman played a loose pull over the head of square leg in the 11 over, but followed it with a lovely cover drive later in the over.
Will Smith also looked in good touch after his incredible one-day century 48 hours earlier, punching a drive for four through the offside.
The run-rate was helped considerably by the introduction of Liam Plunkett.
The Teessider has had an excellent first season since moving from Durham to Yorkshire, playing himself into the England Lions' set-up. But the inaccuracy which beset his last couple of years with Durham returned with a vengeance.
Stoneman and Smith both actively tried to get after their old team-mate. Six boundaries came off three overs, with Plunkett taken out of the attack after two overs which cost 22. The first over on his return, switched to the Trafalgar Square End, cost nine.
There then followed a spell of five overs for six runs which brought Smith's wicket.
Although it was a loose drive from the right-hander it took an excellent diving right-handed catch by Yorkshire's recent overseas signing – Kane Williamson – disguised in Jonny Bairstow's shirt – to remove him
After a spell with England Lions, Ben Stokes looked in great touch, clipping off his legs for four after two balls.
Stoneman also looked in excellent touch, whipping a lovely shot off his legs for four. A tight single to midwicket brought up his 50.
The hosts introduced both spinners before lunch.
After Williamson and Adil Rashid had bowled an over each the two sides went in for lunch with Durham 117-3. Stoneman was 73 not out, with Stokes alongside him on 18.
Thursday's Journal will have a full report and analysis of day one, with end-of-play reaction from the Durham camp in the Chronicle.
