Durham v Worcestershire: Day Three tea

Jul 2 2009 By Luke Edwards, The Journal

THE rehabilitation of Liam Plunkett continues to give plenty of reason for encouragementas the fast bowler picked up another two wickets after lunch to make it nine in the match.

The key one came when opener Alexei Kervezee was surprised by a quicker delivery. Taking his eye off the ball, it clipped the top of his bat and looped into the safe hands of wicketkeeper Phil Mustard.

The South-African born Dutch international was the one significant source of frustration for Durham's bowlers and he had shown commendable discipline and shot selection to score 66 when others in the visiting ranks threw theirs away.

Before lunch, Ben Smith and Moeen Ali had both been snaffled cutting to point, but it was Durham's tight bowling which wore Worcestershire down.

David Wheeldon never looked at ease before Michael Di Venuto took an acrobatic diving catch at second slip to give Mitch Claydon his first wicket of the innings.

There was also a wicket for spinner Ian Blackwell, a thin edge from Ashley Noffke removing one of Worcestershire's remaining dangermen.

However, by far the most entertaining wicket to fall was that of Gareth Batty, who shouldered arms and lost his middle stump as Plunkett got one to nip back into the right-hander.

Ahhh, nothing quite like seeing an opposition batsman being humiliated trying to be clever - even Batty saw the funny side holding his defensive pose for far longer than necessary as Durham's fielders celebrated around him.

Durham had more to celebrate moments later when Blackwell struck again, Josh Knappett caught behind by Mustard for just one.

Kabir Ali and Chris Whelan are adding some useful runs for the ninth wicket, but it looks like they are merely postponing the inevitable with Worcestershire 158-8.

Durham may even look to wrap things up tonight as there are more thunder storms forecasted across the North East on Friday and it was be very annoying if Worcestershire escaped with a draw now.