Northamptonshire were frustrated with the ball late on as Mitchell Killeen hit an unbeaten 112 to put the game in an interesting spot heading into day 2.
On a sunny first day at Darlington CC, Durham 2XI won toss and elected to bat, with James Sales taking the new ball for Northamptonshire 2XI.
The Durham openers made a steady start until the 12th over, where Arafat Bhuiyan trapped Bushnell LBW for the opening wicket.
Three overs later and the other Durham opener was dismissed, this time by Freddie Fowler as Jones feathered one behind to Charlie Oldershaw.
Keeling-Wright picked up the third in the 18th over as Graham Clark flashed at one, only to find Arush Buchake at second slip.
Shortly before lunch, Fowler picked up his second wicket as Whitfield edged behind and Charlie Oldershaw took a stunning grab low down to his right hand side.
Whitfield was dismissed after some deliberation between the umpires about whether it was a bump ball but Durham 2XI were 83/4 after the decision.
At lunch, the batting side were 94/4 after some hard work by the Northamptonshire 2XI bowlers in the opening session of the three day game.
With the sun still shining and batting looking easier as the day progressed, French and Mustard shared a 60 run partnership before Mustard was dismissed by Fowler. French continued the run scoring, hitting 70 before Arafat Bhuiyan trapped him LBW in the 62nd over.
At tea, Durham had navigated themselves to a stronger position of 238/6, with Killeen unbeaten on 52 and McAlidon on 3.
The 2XI made a positive start to the evening session, striking in the second over after tea. Arafat Bhuiyan picked up his third as McAlidon clipped one to Heldreich at mid wicket.
By the 80th over, Durham were 329/7, with Killeen approaching his century on 92 and also joined by former Northamptonshire man Brandon Glover, who was on 37.
It was a frustrating end to the day for the 2XI as Killeen and Glover shared a stand of 119 before declaring on 367/8. Killeen was unbeaten on a brilliant 112 and Glover 55 not out.
Arush Buchake and Aum Raykar had eight overs to navigate at the end of the day and the pair managed very well, scoring 35 off the 8 overs, going into the close of day one 35/0.