Montgomerie's continued good form puts Sussex in control over Durham

Sussex opener Richard Montgomerie continued his amazing form when he batted all day for 134 not out against Durham at Chester-le-Street.

He reached 1,000 first-class runs on 97 - beaten only by Kent's David Fulton - and went on to reach his fifth CricInfo Championship hundred of the season two days after hitting a Norwich Union League century against Essex.

Although Montgomerie initially outscored opening partner Murray Goodwin, who began the day 36 runs ahead of him, he later left the free-flowing strokeplay to others as Sussex reached 338 for four.

Chris Adams had ten fours in a 60-ball half-century and Umer Rashid contributed 56 to an unbroken stand of 90.

Montgomerie reached his hundred off 185 balls with 14 fours and his only scares came on 41 and 46, when a top-edged pull and cut narrowly evaded fine leg and third man.

The depleted Durham attack was condemned to a day of toil in a strong wind on a flat pitch after Jon Lewis lost the toss for the seventh successive championship match.

The openers had 81 on the board when left-arm spinner Graeme Bridge, playing his second first-class match, came on for the 29th over.

His second ball was a full toss, which Goodwin tried to smash through mid-wicket only to fall lbw for 36, still 25 short of 1,000 runs.

Steve Harmison was recalled in an attempt to unsettle Adams, but the Sussex captain hammered 32 of the 40 runs which were added before lunch. He gave Danny Law a return catch three balls after reaching his 50.