Durham squander hard work as Warwickshire strike back

Martin Love scored his eighth championship half-century and Paul Collingwood his sixth in ten innings, but Durham failed to capitalise against Warwickshire at Chester-le-Street.

With off-spinner Neil Smith taking two wickets in the last half-hour, Durham closed on 208 for seven in reply to 310 after batting at the same slow tempo as their visitors.

Queenslander Love had ten fours in his 76-ball 50, but he and Collingwood were then tied down by accurate bowling from Alan Richardson and Dougie Brown.

Love edged to second slip in the third over after tea and with the next ball Melvyn Betts had Nicky Peng lbw for his third wicket against his former team-mates. He also had Michael Gough and Martin Speight dropped by wicketkeeper Keith Piper diving to his right.

Collingwood grafted for 191 balls to make 69, only to chop a ball from Smith into his stumps six overs from the close.

Both counties were without their leading bowler because of knee injuries. Although Vasbert Drakes batted with a runner as the visitors lost their four remaining wickets for 40 he did not take the field.

He had suffered his injury playing football after the first day's play, while Durham's Simon Brown had developed soreness while bowling yesterday.

In his absence Danny Law took the new ball and took three for 14 in 7.3 overs to finish with four for 58. Dominic Ostler's excellent 121 off 263 balls ended when he chopped a short ball into his stumps.