WORCESTERSHIRE could not prevent Dur-ham's Jon Lewis completing his century when play resumed today in the CricInfo Championship Division Two clash at the Riverside.

Lewis ended yesterday 97 not out as Durham closed the first day on 215-2 and he soon passed the three-figure mark as the County battled to keep the home side's innings in check.

They helped their cause when the Durham total had moved on to 276 when Lewis was caught by Gra-eme Hick for 127 off the bowling of seamer Chris Liptrot.

But Paul Collingwood was still batting well and closing on his century as Durham reached 294-3.

Yesterday, play began 90 minutes late following rain and Lewis batted through the day, hitting 15 fours off 255 balls.

He had only one escape when he edged Andy Bichel just over the slips having made 21.

Lewis had to work hard against Bichel and Alamgir Sheriyar, with the left-armer conceding only 26 runs in 18 overs.

But England U19 Gary Pratt contributed an im-pressive 37 to a stand of 85.

Pratt fell lbw trying to whip Chris Liptrot through the leg side and Martin Love then shared a stand of 53 before he was snared by David Leatherdale.

Leatherdale struck in his third over when Love pushed forward and edged to wicketkeeper Steve Rhodes for 26.

But he posed no problems for Paul Collingwood who, needing 63 at the start of his innings for 1,000 first-class runs, produced the most fluent batting, hitting seven fours off 72 balls in reraching his overnight 45 not out.