Borthwick stars after Blackwell ton

Warwickshire 429 and 52 for 4 v Durham 465
Scorecard

A century from Ian Blackwell gave Durham maximum batting points and a lead of 36 against Warwickshire, who slipped to 52 for 4 in their second innings on the third day at Chester-le-Street. A high-scoring stalemate was looking likely until Durham brought on leg-spinner Scott Borthwick with eight overs left and he took three wickets.

Borthwick struck with his second and fifth deliveries to trap William Porterfield and Mohammad Yousuf lbw. Porterfield was well forward, but Yousuf stayed back and tried to paddle around the corner. Unlike the first innings, when he was caught behind, the former Pakistan captain did not look too dismayed by the decision as he departed for a duck. Borthwick struck again in his fourth over when Ian Westwood was caught at short leg off bat and pad for 27.

Blackwell showed uncharacteristic restraint when Durham resumed on 230 for 5, needing a further 50 to avoid the follow-on. He took 32 balls to add to his overnight five, while Dale Benkenstein scored only 10 in the first hour. The shackles were removed by the introduction of Paul Best.

The 20-year-old student is making his Championship debut in place of fellow left-arm spinner Ant Botha who is out for four to six weeks with a knee injury, and that has given Warwickshire a problem after winning their first two games.

Best did pick up two late wickets, but not before he had conceded 50 runs in eight overs. Blackwell got underway with a driven four and swept six in the same over and runs continued to flow when the new ball was taken.

The stand was worth 161 when Benkenstein was bowled for 75 - his fifth half-century in seven innings - as Boyd Rankin produced a good spell after lunch. Despite his watchful start, Blackwell reached 50 off 79 balls and his only real scare came on 99.

On 98 he scampered a single to mid-off and when the throw ended up at long leg he went back for the second. Andrew Miller hit the stumps and Blackwell was given the benefit of considerable doubt.

There were 15 fours and two sixes in his 142-ball century, and he looked intent on turning it into a big one until he was run out for 125 in a mix-up with Callum Thorp. He was last out with the total on 465 when he was bowled for 15 by Best, the ball after driving him for a huge straight six.

Warwickshire had 31 overs to bat after tea and lost Varun Chopra with the score on 19 when he pushed forward and edged Thorp to wicketkeeper Michael Richardson. They then looked like surviving without further mishap until Borthwick left them battling to avoid defeat on the final day.