DALE Benkenstein and Ian Blackwell put Durham in a commanding position at home to Worcestershire in the County Championship today.

The pair have added an unbroken 88 for the fifth wicket as the Riversiders reached 330-4 at tea, a lead of 306.

The only disappointment of a session which saw Durham ease back a bit after batting at break-neck speed in the morning was Mark Stoneman's failure to score a second successive Championship century.

The left-hander reached his 50 shortly after lunch when he cut a wide ball to the boundary for his eighth four of what at that point was an 80-ball innings.

But he was lbw for 75 playing forward to Moeen Ali. He looked unfortunate to be given out by Trevor Jesty, and his reaction as he headed back to the dressing room seemed to suggest he thought so too.

Benkenstein, who scored so quickly before lunch was more circumspect after it. Benkenstein was 30 not out when Blackwell came to the crease on 242-4, but by tea his partner had very nearly caught up.

The South African was not helped by being struck on the glove by a ball from Alan Richarrdson which spat up off a length when he was on 31.

He played the ball into the legside to bring up his 50, a landmark Blackwell reached in the same manner. Benkenstein's 50 came from 101 balls with seven fours.

Blackwell brought up Durham's 250 with a straight driven four and continued to attack, although he had only found the rope five times in his 50, which came from 68 balls.

Although their hopes are slim, Durham are still not out of the title race, but they will be if they do not win. Likewise, Worcestershire are still not safe from relegation, though Hampshire will need to claim maximum batting bonus points en route to victory over Warwickshire to send them down.

Blackwell was 55 not out at the interval, Benkenstein 58.

For a full report of the third day's play, read The Journal tomorrow.