Durham take control at New Road before rain hits (From Worcester News)

Durham take control at New Road before rain hits

10:33am Friday 13th July 2012 in WCCC

SCOTT Borthwick’s best bowling performance of the season enabled Durham to take advantage against Worcestershire before rain returned on the third day of their LV= County Championship match at New Road.

The 22-year-old leg-spinner posted figures of 4-37 in 15 overs after sparking the home side’s collapse for 205 when he halted Phil Hughes’ confident progress to 87 from 136 balls.

From the time the Australian was adjudged leg-before, pushing forward to Borthwick’s fourth delivery, Worcestershire lost 8-60 and Durham continued to turn the screw with their openers making 67 without loss.

Mark Stoneman, playing well for the second time in the match, cruised to an unbeaten 41 from 60 balls and Will Smith (20 not out) survived an early chance in the slips as Durham expanded their lead to 105.

With 33 overs still to bowl, they were aiming to build a match-winning position until the rain set in at tea, and now, with only today left, a positive outcome is less likely in a meeting of two teams without a Championship victory.

With 45 runs added to the overnight 100-2, Hughes was trapped after the opener had hit 17 fours. Then Moeen Ali and Matt Pardoe both shovelled catches to Michael Richardson on the mid-wicket boundary.

When Borthwick took his fourth wicket, diving forward to hold a return chance to remove James Cameron for 24, the innings was in full retreat.

Jack Shantry (17) did manage to chisel out a batting bonus point with last man Alan Richardson but paceman Chris Rushworth finished the job with 3-13 in his post-lunch spell.