Yorkshire edging tight contest

Durham 178 for 288 for 7 (Di Venuto 84, Hoggard 3-45) lead Yorkshire 313 by 153 runs
Scorecard

Durham spent a tense third day at the wicket as they fought to extract themselves from a tough position Yorkshire. They had the better of the first session, with Michael Di Venuto in particular prospering against mediocre Yorkshire bowling, while the honours for the remainder of the day were pretty even.

The sustained tension of the first two sessions, though, really exploded into excitement in the final two hours, when Yorkshire's bowlers turned in a superb performance as they attempted to break through the stubborn resistance. However, Durham hung on with three wickets in hand to go into the final day with a fighting chance.

Play began under gloomy skies, which improved a little as the day progressed. Durham in their second innings were 26 for 1, having begun their second innings 135 runs behind Yorkshire. The first delivery of the day was a short loosener from Matthew Hoggard, and Di Venuto was all too grateful to slash it to the cover boundary. He soon lost Mark Davies, the night-watchman, though, as the latter dabbed at a ball from Hoggard moving away and edged a catch to the keeper.

It was to be Yorkshire's last wicket during the morning session, though, which definitely went in the visitors' favour. Di Venuto soon asserted himself with positive attacking strokes, while Kyle Coetzer slowly grew in confidence at the other end. Yorkshire for their part have a history of failing to bowl the opposition out cheaply a second time after taking a big lead on the first innings, and their bowlers did not always look as if they were going to do any better on this occasion, as they were rather erratic. Adil Rashid often impressed, while Rana Naved bowled some tight spells without looking really threatening. Di Venuto, slow through the 40s, reached his 50 off 87 balls, a stroke which also brought up the 100.

Soon after lunch Durham wiped off the deficit without further loss, although Coetzer was missed off a hard chance to second slip off Ajmal Shahzad. But then Yorkshire made a crucial double strike. First Hoggard produced a full-length delivery to bowl Coetzer for 38, and in the next over Di Venuto, on 84, chopped a ball from Bresnan on to his stumps. Durham were suddenly 158 for 4. Gordon Muchall also fell not long afterwards, for 15, trapped lbw by Hoggard. In face of these setbacks, the normally aggressive pair of Dale Benkenstein and Ian Blackwell had to dig in, a job they did commendably.

After tea, Shahzad bowled a hostile spell, making the ball fly at times, but the batsmen survived. He and Bresnan had both batsmen struggling, playing and missing frequently, until finally Blackwell (32) got close enough to get an edge and the wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow took a fine low catch. Durham did very well not to lose any further wickets during this the most exciting period of the day's play. But the pressure was not all off, by any means, as Hoggard and Rashid both bowled very well in tandem and the umpires rejected numerous passionate appeals.

It was riveting stuff, and it seemed as if Benkenstein and his new partner Phil Mustard had survived the worst and were beginning to turn the tables on the bowlers. But at this point Benkenstein, pushing forward to Rashid, was trapped lbw for a determined 36, scored off 128 balls. Minutes later Naved bowled Plunkett - but with a no-ball. Both batsmen survived till the close, but they certainly had to fight for it. It seemed incredible that Durham, who had to fight desperately for survival for over after over, lost only two wickets in the final session; Yorkshire will certainly consider it a travesty of justice, but all credit to the batsmen for hanging on.

Yorkshire still hold the advantage in this match, but Durham's fighting spirit show that they are by no means out of it. The final day promises the conclusion of an intriguing struggle, should the weather stay dry.