Danny Law's maiden Championship century dragged Durham out of the mire against Hampshire at Chester-le-Street today.

James Brinkley and Graeme Bridge also revealed hidden talents as Durham recovered from 92 for five, with Nicky Peng retired hurt, to reach 323 before Law was ninth out two balls after reaching his 168-ball hundred with his 13th four.

Peng was unable to resume because of mild concussion after being struck just below the back of the helmet by a ball from Neil Johnson.

Law shared a record seventh-wicket stand for Durham of 127 with last winter's other signing, Brinkley, who smashed two sixes off Shaul Udal in reaching 65 after previously totalling 38 runs in nine innings.

Left-arm spinner Bridge, who had totalled 12 in seven innings, made 31 after surviving a hat-trick ball in the first over after lunch as triallist seamer James Schofield, making his Championship debut, removed Martin Love and Andrew Pratt.

Love was one short of his 12th Championship half-century of the season when he shaped to pull a ball which kept low and got a bottom edge into his middle stump.

He had partially repaired the early damage inflicted in an excellent spell of two for 12 in eight overs by Dimitri Mascarenhas after Durham chose to bat.

Law went in when Peng retired hurt just before lunch and batted very responsibly until he became Morris's fourth victim, bowled for 103 going for a big drive.

In six overs' batting, Jason Laney and Giles White took Hampshire to 15 without loss.

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