ASHLEY Noffke and Mark Davies ruthlessly exploited the psychological pressure which is invariably exerted by a total of 500 as Durham continued this season's astonishing deeds yesterday.

The Queensland seamer removed Essex's top three, plus acting captain James Foster, then Davies had three wickets in four balls as the visitors were routed for 106.

With nine overs to bat, they followed on 400 behind and at the close of the second day they were 12 for one in their second innings after Davies clean bowled Will Jefferson.

If Essex are the second best team in division two then the only danger to Durham's title march is complacency, and there's not much sign of that.

Given the uneven bounce, it was obvious throughout that anything above 300 should be a winning total and, faced with a follow-on target of 357, Essex were quickly in trouble.

But the variations in bounce could be no excuse for the extraordinary sight of four batsmen being bowled when shouldering arms.

The only slight disappointment for Durham was that debut boy Mark Turner failed to take a wicket in two impressive spells.

Jefferson, who scored a brilliant century against Durham at Colchester last August, is clearly out of form after a good start to this campaign and made nought and two yesterday.

In the first innings he had already shouldered arms and survived an lbw appeal when he did it again in the third over and had his off bail trimmed by Noffke.

In the 15th over there was almost an action replay, except that Grant Flower saw the stump knocked out.

Alastair Cook, the highly-rated 20-year-old left-hander, played well to reach 39 at tea, only to fish at the second ball after the break and edge to Phil Mustard.

Noffke had Foster lbw before resting with figures of four for 19 in 15 overs, which included two for one in his six-over second spell.

Davies had chipped in by finding a little extra bounce to have Ravinder Bopara caught at third slip, then came back to take the seventh, eighth and ninth wickets with the total on 94.

Andy Flower had battled hard to make 20 when he was bowled with bat aloft, then debut boy Mervyn Westfield drove at his second ball and edged to third slip and Nick Thornicroft watched the next ball take out his off stump.

Neil Killeen, who earlier moved one away off the pitch to bowl James Middlebrook, wrapped up the innings when Andre Adams slashed a catch to Dale Benkenstein at gully.

Essex's total was 48 fewer than their previous lowest against Durham, amazingly made in the same match at Chelmsford in 1993 when Durham amassed their previous highest against Essex of 483.

Following Gordon Muchall's 123 on the first day, acting captain Benkenstein moved on from his overnight 91 to 110 yesterday.

It was the first time two Durham batsmen had scored centuries in the same championship innings since Martin Love made 251 and Muchall 127 in their record total of 645 for six at Lord's three years ago.

Benkenstein reached his century off 204 balls by hitting successive leg-side fours off Adams, the second one whipped in front of mid-wicket off the back foot.

While it was disappointing for Durham to lose Gareth Breese after adding only three to his overnight 60, then Benkenstein, they could take heart from the fact that both were lbw to balls which kept low.

Breese was doubly unfortunate in receiving one of the few straight balls from Dale Steyn, who had bowled an excellent spell the previous evening but adopted the scattergun approach yesterday. He contributed nine no-balls and four wides to the total of 56 extras.

Mustard hit three fours but after several edged singles it was no surprise when he found second slip, then only nine runs came in seven overs until Davies cut Steyn for four.

Davies was the only batsman who failed to reach double figures, however, as Steyn produced a sharply-rising delivery to have him caught a third slip.

Turner stayed long enough to show he can handle a bat before top-edging a pull to mid-wicket.

He edged 17-year-old Westfield's first ball of the day for four but also played a couple of handsome square drives before handing Westfield his maiden first-class wicket.

It also gave Essex the third bowling point with two balls to go before the 130-over cut-off point, but on current evidence it should not affect the promotion position at the end of the season.

Durham were 493 for nine at lunch and added 13 afterwards before Killeen was caught behind off Thornicroft for 23, leaving Noffke unbeaten on 25.

It was Thornicroft's only wicket, and until he realises he isn't quick enough to intimidate batsmen he is unlikely to be welcomed back with open arms at Yorkshire.

Durham handed the new ball to Turner and he began by bowling too wide of off stump to the left-handed Cook. But he quickly settled and got a couple of balls past the bat as well as having a good lbw shout against Grant Flower turned down. Turner bowled another good spell after tea without any luck, but otherwise it was another perfect day for Durham.

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