Australian opening batsman Michael di Venuto continued his outstanding contribution to Durham's LV County Championship-winning season with an unbeaten 61 on the first day of their fixture against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.

Di Venuto, scorer of 1,418 runs already this season, was impressive again as Durham made the most of a day truncated by rain.

Only 29 overs were possible and Durham, after winning the toss, ended at 95 for one with Kyle Coetzer the only casualty.

The north-east county went into the match already crowned as the champions and seeking to go through the season unbeaten.

Hampshire need to win the match to avert the possibility of relegation having won only three of their 14 Division One fixtures.

At the first interruption Durham were 59 without loss but by the time they came off again for bad light they had lost Coetzer.

Hampshire introduced teenage spinner Danny Briggs as early as the eighth over and it was he who accounted for Coetzer. The Durham opener had made 20 in an innings of 51 balls and four fours when he was bowled just as Durham were beginning to get on top.

Briggs ended the first day with figures of one for 26 from 11 economical overs and by then Di Venuto had raced to his half-century.

At the premature close in mid-afternoon the Tasmanian batsman had faced 92 balls and struck seven fours while his captain, Will Smith was unbeaten with 11.

Durham gave a first-class debut to young spinner Scott Borthwick as, like Hampshire, they decided to go into the match with two front-line spin bowlers.

Hampshire had Briggs and leading wicket-taker Imran Tahir to back up a seam attack of Dominic Cork, David Griffiths and Sean Ervine but there was little to help the bowlers in what little play was possible.