BOTTOM-of-the-table Worcestershire are facing their fifth LV County Championship defeat of the season tomorrow.

Liam Plunkett was league leaders Durham’s enforcer once again at Chester-le-Street.

Needing 179 to triumph, there was no hint of the hosts’ calamitous start from the first innings and they reached 64-1 at the close.

In Worcestershire’s second innings, the first five wickets were shared by five bowlers before Plunkett went on to complete the first 10-wicket match haul of his career and he added an 11th to finish with 5-56.

Given much easier batting conditions, the visitors played a huge part in their own downfall as they subsided from 57-1 to 179 all out.

Dutch international Alexei Kervezee played impressively and was largely untroubled until Plunkett came back for his second spell.

Kervezee completed his maiden championship 50 off 105 balls and had reached 66 when he top-edged a catch to Phil Mustard.

Plunkett had brought several balls back into the right-hander, so it was a surprise to see acting captain Gareth Batty (4) shoulder arms to one which knocked out his off stump.

Ian Blackwell provided Mustard with two more catches as Worcestershire collapsed to 124-8 before Chris Whelan (21) helped Kabir Ali (30 not out) put on 45.

But it was too late to repair the damage, which started with two careless dismissals just before lunch with Moeen Ali and Ben Smith caught cheaply at backward point.

Young left-hander David Wheeldon again failed to make an impression with the bat.