Durham make most of limited play

Warwickshire 186 and 35 for 3 v Durham 602 for 6 dec
Scorecard

Sometimes progress comes at a cost. For the second time in a couple of weeks, Warwickshire were made to rue their new, fast-draining outfield, as Durham took advantage of brief opportunities between the showers to tighten their grip on this game.

The new outfield at Edgbaston has already cost Warwickshire eight points after it contributed to the dry pitch - deemed poor by an ECB pitch panel - that was utilised for the game against Worcestershire.

On this occasion it allowed Durham enough time to move significantly closer to their fourth victory of the championship campaign. Under normal circumstances, enough rain had fallen at Edgbaston to prevent any play at all on the third day.

In truth, it is not the outfield that has put Warwickshire on the back foot in this game. It is their poor bowling and their quite wretched batting.

There was no improvement for them on the third day. Even though just 15.2 overs were possible amid the storms, it was enough time for Durham to claim four wickets. Ben Stokes, bowling with excellent pace to defy the sluggish pitch, continued to impress, but Warwickshire's batting was remarkably feeble. It speaks volumes that, of the 13 dismissals of Warwickshire batsmen so far, six of them have failed to score a run.

After Stokes ended Warwickshire's first innings just eight balls into the day - Michael Di Venuto at second slip taking his first of three catches in the day as Phil Mustard parried the ball in his direction off substitute player Andy Miller - the hosts were obliged to follow-on 416 runs behind.

Varun Chopra, prodding away from his body as if providing catching practise, fell in the second over of Warwickshire's second innings, before a leaden-footed Ian Westwood edged his lavish attempt at a drive and Mohammad Yousuf suffered the first king pair of his 15-year career when he shuffled in front of a full delivery. It was only the second pair of Yousuf's career and means that his last three first-class innings against Durham have lasted just six balls combined and not resulted in a single run.

Jim Troughton and Darren Maddy saw Warwickshire to the close without further mishap but, with much better weather forecast on the last day, Warwickshire are facing the prospect of one of the biggest defeats in their history. Not since 2002 have they taken just one point from a Championship game.

The only metaphorical cloud on the horizon for Durham was the absence of Steve Harmison in the final session. Harmison reported a back strain and it is unclear whether he'll be able to participate on the fourth day.