DURHAM took three wickets for no runs this morning as they pushed for an eighth and final County Championship victory of the season at Chester-le-Street.
With the title being decided in an exciting finish in the south, the Riversiders have only pride to play for against Worcestershire, whoselace in next season's Division One was confirmed yesterday.
The Pears were 185-8 at lunch, needing 365 to end their season on an unexpected high.
Graham Onions was unlucky not to add to his 50 Championship wickets for the season this morning as James Cameron and Moeen Ali attacked him as gleefully as the openers had the previous day.
Ali looked in good touch, twice driving fours off Callum Thorp - four short of 50 victims himself at the start of the day - in the opening over. The first went behind point, the second in front of square.
Cameron cut a wide ball from Thorp for four to take Worcestershire's score into three figures in the 26th over. He was on 38 when Onions found the edge of his bat, the chance falling a fraction short of Paul Collingwood, who actually fielded the ball well at first slip. The fast bowler made his frustration known to the batsman.
Ali was out for 38, Michael Di Venuto diving to his right at second slip to take a good catch off Mitchell Claydon, bowling his second over of the morning.
Three balls later he produced an outswinger which found a thin edge of Alexei Kervezee's bat. It was another three balls before Ian Blackwell had Cameron lbw playing back on 47. Three wickets had fallen for 128.
The batsmen seemed determined to get after Blackwells left-arm spin. Cameron and Ali both lofted him over long-off, the latter for a six.
But it was Gareth Andrew who was most aggressive towards his good friend, who he hit straight back over his head for another maximum. It got the better of him, and he was out dragging a reverse onto his stumps with 15 to his name.
Di Venuto took another good catch to give Blackwell his third wicket of the innings. Matt Pardoe had made an attacking 27 before he inside-edged onto his back pad. The ball looped up but looked like it would elude the Tasmanian, only for him to dive forward at slip and take the ball just in time.
Wickets were now starting to tumble regularly, and Ben Scott was the next to go, playing a strange jabbed sweep to Mark Stoneman at short-fine leg off Scott Borthwick. The wicketkeeper made 15.
RIchard Jones and Kemar Roach were the unbeaten batsmen at lunch but neither had scored a run. They should not keep Durham in the field too long after the resumption.
See Friday's Journal for a full report of Durham's final day of county cricket this season.
