A brief Stokes vs Lyon bout follows the formula

The undercard showcasing Tom Aspinwall's five-for provides a stronger story.
Lancashire 357 (Jennings 115, Bruce 46, Raine 3-67, Stokes 2-70) and 91 for 2 (Jennings 38*, Raine 1-10) are leading Durham 236 (Bedingham 101, Aspinwall 5-41, Lyon 4-59) by 212 runs.
Without a doubt, Saturday's heavyweight fight fell short of expectations. Even if you didn't have to pay £24.99 to see it, neutrals would be justified to feel shortchanged by only 10 minutes of Ben Stokes vs Nathan Lyon.

The eight balls between two experienced Ashes opponents proceeded to type. The Australian has dismissed England's captain nine times in Tests, and number 10 with the red ball sent the left-hander on his way for a labored two, thanks to a superb low catch by Tom Bruce at second slip.

Stokes' erratic footwork and tilted bat face recalled his problems in India earlier this year. Lyon was outstanding, with 4 for 59 from 26 overs - 19 on the bounce, split 9 and 10 either side of the lunch break - knocking the wind out of Durham as they surrendered a first-innings advantage of 121, which would grow to 212 at stumps.
As usual, the better stories came from the undercard. Tom Aspinwall's 5 for 41, bowling for the first time in first-class cricket in only his second game after debuting against Surrey in the opening round this summer, knocked Durham out for 236. But for David Bedingham's high-class century - his second in a succession after 144 against Hampshire last week - from only 142 deliveries, things could have been far worse.
"It was all a bit of a blur," Aspwinwall smiled at him. "But I really enjoyed it. "I couldn't believe I was leading the boys off at the end."
He admitted to having butterflies early on and was shocked when Ben Stokes walked out. "You grow up as a kid watching him and everyone my age - he's their favorite player." It is worth mentioning that the 20-year-old helped his more accomplished bowling partner by restricting Stokes to eight deliveries.

Durham needed only 12 deliveries to complete Lancashire's first innings score of 357 runs. The sun was shining, the outfield was speedy, and an intriguing batting lineup led by Stokes had their sights set on making apologies for their Friday errors. Lyon stepped in after nine overs to cut their wings.
With the turn available from the North End, the off-spinner could pick away at Alex Lees before snaring fellow southpaw Scott Borthwick, who was caught by Luke Wells at first slip after a faint deflection off the keeper's gloves. George Balderson had previously attended to Lees' ball.

Bedingham and Colin Ackermann, who are right-handed, found things easier. The intent was obvious when Bedingham rocked back to slap a six over midwicket off Saqib Mahmood, who had beaten his edge three times.
Fortunately, He survived a tough lbw to Lyon after lunch, with 28 to his name. Aspinwall's first ball in the format was a yorker, which added to his advantage. Four deliveries later, Aspwinwall was on the scoreboard thanks to a spectacular reflex grab by Keaton Jennings, who stuck out his right palm at first slip after Ackermann sliced at a wide delivery. "Probably the worst one I bowled," Aspwinwall candidly said. "But it was still special."

George Bell matched Jennings' effort with his left at short leg, and Ollie Robinson fell to Lyon for a two-ball duck. Stokes followed four overs later, leaving Durham 145 for 5 and 212 behind. Bedingham naturally ramped it up a notch, going from 61 to 100 in only 42 deliveries, thanks to the first six to clear the ground when he swung into Balderson's legside to reach 98.
Unfortunately, that aggression would be the undoing of South Africa's newest Test star and, eventually, Durham. Their final five wickets went for 23 runs in 8.4 overs, a collapse triggered by Bedingham's hack against his stumps off the second delivery of the evening session.

It terminated a 68-run stand for the sixth wicket with Graham Clark, Lyon's penultimate dismissal, and gave Aspwinwall a boost. He squared up the left-handed Ben Raine, a third wicket in nine balls before one kept so low. Matthew Potts couldn't help but smile when his off-stump was smacked back. The highlight for the Lancaster-born allrounder was trapping Callum Parkinson in front for number five.
Lancashire's excitement grew as they scored 91 more runs in the remaining 21 overs, adding to Durham's frustration. Stokes, who began the day with a single over, furiously bowled another four, as is his habit. Potts' stunning catch running all of 30 yards back from midfield to snag Wells' inaccurate flick to the leg side earned Stokes his third wicket of the game. And he should have got another ball after Bohannon gloved down the leg side.
Bohannon took advantage of the opportunity to go rogue, driving at anything that moved and, crucially, landing a few to reach 38 before Raine cut him off. Jennings will resume on the same score on day three, buoyed by his century on day one and the efforts of a team that has demonstrated enough heart and skill over the last 48 hours to suggest they are too good to be propping up Division One.