County Championship D2, Worcester, day two
Worcestershire 218 & 198; Durham 120 & 145-3 (at close)
Durham will need another 152 on the final day to register their third successive Championship win on a pitch still offering plenty of assistance to the bowlers.
Having conceded a first innings lead of 98, they kept themselves in contention by dismissing Worcestershire in just 51.5 overs.
Youngster Liam Plunkett took 3-61 and he was backed up by Shaoib Akhtar, Steve Harmison and Nicky Phillips, who picked up two wickets each.
Ben Smith top scored with 60 for the home side - his second half century of the game - but Steve Adshead (31) and Matt Mason (27) were the only other batsmen to offer prolonged resistance.
A victory target of 297 still looked a tough one for Durham and they lost Michael Gough (26) to Mason, who followed up with the crucial wicket of Australian Martin Love for a duck.
Jon Lewis and Gary Pratt added 67 for the third wicket before spinner Gareth Batty bowled Lewis for 53, but Pratt survived on 46 not out.
Worcestershire: S D Peters, A Singh, Kadeer Ali, B F Smith (Capt), J M Kemp, S C Moore, G J Batty, S J Adshead (Wkt), M S Mason, M A Harrity, M Hayward.
Durham: J J B Lewis (Capt), M A Gough, M L Love, G J Muchall, G J Pratt, V J Wells, P Mustard (Wkt), L E Plunkett, Shoaib Akhtar, N C Phillips, S J Harmison.
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