Rain delayed the start by half an hour and it was Mitchell Claydon who picked up the first two wickets of the day, Smith caught behind before Lancashire got off the mark, and the second, Horton caught at point by Ben Stokes for 9, coming after an early lunch had been taken in light of the rain.
The hosts were 59-3 after Ian Blackwell had dangerman Shivnarine Chanderpaul trapped lbw on 10, breaking the 47 run partnership with Chilton, after the former Durham overseas had been dropped a few overs earlier.
Lancashire were 79 – 3 when heavy rain stopped play after 32.3 overs.
The sides managed to return to the field just after 5.30pm with 18.3 overs available for the remainder of the day.
Mark Chilton passed the fifty mark as Lancashire passed 90 but they were reduced to 95-4 when Croft was caught by Di Venuto in the slips off Blackwell for 17.
Economical spells from Plunkett, Blackwell and Borthwick in the final session ensured that Lancashire didn’t score too quickly, keeping their rate to below 2.5 an over, and by the close of play on day one they were 131-4 with Chilton 68* and Cross 17* after 51 overs.
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At the close of play we spoke to seamer Mitchell Claydon, “I think today was like the first day of our match against Lancashire at Emirates Durham – it’ll all depend on tomorrow for both sides. It’s a bit hard coming on and off, stopping and starting but the key is coming out in the morning and bowling well as a unit.
“As an attack we bowled better together than we have done for a long time – we all got it right, bowling a lot of overs for not many runs. We had a discussion saying that if we can each stick at three an over we’d be doing well.
“I think getting left out at Basingstoke was a hard knock and to pick up early wickets today gives me that confidence. I now need to make sure I bowl as well tomorrow and pick up a few more wickets tomorrow. Coming out fighting tomorrow morning is key”