Durham victory delayed by rain

Rain at Kidderminster denied Durham an opportunity to wrap up a three-day win after skittling Worcestershire for 147 in their second innings.

All-rounder Danny Law took 5 for 52 and claimed match figures of 8 for 130 to set his side a short-haul target of 115 for their second success of the season in the CricInfo Championship.

They would have had 48 overs to complete the job on Saturday but an untimely break in the weather probably allowed Worcestershire a stay of execution. Law has been the major difference between the teams, not only with his bowling but with an explosive 64 in 81 balls which earned Durham a first innings lead of 33.

This was close to being decisive when Law took 3 for 18 in 6.3 overs before Worcestershire could wipe out the deficit. Philip Weston was lbw in his second over and Graeme Hick and Vikram Solanki later gave catches to wicketkeeper Andrew Pratt within three balls.

Anurag Singh, as he did in the first innings, survived an early collapse and reached a well-deserved 57 - his second half-century in the Championship since moving from Warwickshire last winter.

Nicky Hatch terminated a fifth-wicket stand of 60 by bowling Paul Pollard and Singh was caught at second slip by Martin Love in the following over from Law.

Steve Rhodes became Law's last victim in the match and only Stuart Lampitt resisted with an unbeaten 23 before the last two wickets went to James Brinkley.

It was a happy reunion for Brinkley with former teammates. The Scotland international took 3 for 19 in the innings and 6 for 77 in the match.