Date-stamped : 07 May95 - 22:23 SUNLG: Lancashire v Durham, Old Trafford, 7 May 1995 Atherton`s appetite is restored - Brian Bearshaw Lancashire (249-7) bt Durham (165) by 84 runs MIKE ATHERTON looks like a man refreshed. A break of several weeks after returning from Australia has enabled him to resume the county game with a real and obvious appetite for runs. He scored 129 in the first-class friendly with Yorkshire, closely followed by 114 in the Benson and Hedges Cup tie with Warwickshire at Edgbaston. And in the process he had to deal with a rampaging Darren Gough and the extra pace of Allan Donald. A third century arrived yesterday in the opening Sunday match against Durham, a priceless innings after Lancashire, put in to bat, had slumped to 63 for three by the 15th over. He guided Lancashire to an impressive 249 for seven, a total Dur- ham never looked like matching. Lancashire, with several players injured, including pace bowler Peter Martin and all-rounder Ian Austin, gave a debut to Richard Green, 19, a Warrington-born all-rounder. Lancashire were given a brisk half-century start at five runs an over from Atherton and Jason Gallian. The stand was broken when Melvyn Betts had Gallian caught at the wicket, the first of three batsmen to fall for eight runs. John Crawley was bowled as he wandered down the pitch to drive gustily, Neil Fairbrother chipped a catch to cover and Lancashire`s two top scorers in limited over matches last year had gathered only five runs between them. Lloyd and Atherton exploited Old Trafford`s wide open spaces Durham could have been forgiven for thinking that this was to be their day but the cavalry were coming. Graham Lloyd, who could not get a place in the current championship match, played his part in a rapid partnership of 140 in 21 overs. He and Atherton exploited Old Trafford`s wide open spaces. Lloyd, in particular, ran like a stag, helping to push Lancashire to 203 before he was eventually beaten by a fielder, James Boil- ing, and run out. Atherton`s immaculate innings ended in the following over when he drove to midwicket only three balls after reaching a century which took him 94 balls and which included only five boundaries. Wasim Akram was out in the same over but Mike Watkinson and War- ren Hegg kept Lancashire on song as 32 runs came in the last two overs. Lancashire`s recovery was complete, their second-half revival bringing them 168 runs in 20 overs. Durham, like Lancashire, lost three wickets by the 15th over and although Mike Roseberry stood firm, he, unlike Atherton, found no lasting support. Gary Yates took two for 24 in eight overs despite a septic spin- ning finger and Green had a great debut, keeping the squeeze on Durham with three for 38, real encouragement for his match with England Under-19s against Sussex 2nd XI at Horsham today. Durham, too, could find cheer in the bowling of their two most inexperienced players, Betts and Shaun Birbeck, who emerged from the slaughter almost unscathed. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)