RAIN delayed the start of Worcestershire's County Championship Division Two clash with Durham at the Riverside today.

Play was finally scheduled to get under way at 12 noon, 90 minutes late.

Durham won the toss and elected to bat. Worcestershire skipper Graeme Hick named the same line-up that beat Hampshire by 112 runs at New Road in their last outing.

Hick was searching for a century which would give him a full set of hundreds home and away against all 17 other counties, and would take his tally of first-class centuries to 117, level with Sir Donald Bradman.

Durham: Lewis, Pratt, Love, Collingwood, Daley, Law, Pratt, Hunter, Bridge, Harmison, Hatch.

Worcestershire: Weston, Singh, Hick, Solanki, Leatherdale, Pollard, Bichel, Rhodes, Rawnsley, Liptrot, Sheriyar.

Umpires: B. Dudleston, D.R. Shepherd.

Meanwhile, the County will clinch promotion from the Norwich Union League Division Two if they can beat Durham on Sunday.

Their no-result against leaders Glamorgan at New Road at the weekend means they will be assured of a top three spot if they win against Durham, who are currently second but have only one match left.

However, defeat for the County could let in Hampshire or Sussex, who kept their promotion hopes alive with a 34-run victory over Glamorgan at Hove last night.

Skipper Chris Adams struck an unbeaten 100 as Sussex totalled 225-2 in their 45 overs, before bowling out Glamorgan for 191.