DESPERATE to beat the weather as well as demoralised opponents, vastly-improved Durham took full advantage of the time available between showers yesterday.

They made Gloucestershire follow on a massive 338 runs behind, then Ian Hunter knocked out Craig Spearman's off stump in the third over of the second innings.

No sooner had Hunter pinned Chris Taylor lbw six overs later than the rain dance which traditionally accompanies Durham's positions of strength kicked in for the third time

The not-so-glorious Glosters would be delighted to seek the sanctuary of the pavilion with their score on 18 for two, but 50 minutes later they were back to face a final 14 overs.

Although Gary Pratt missed a fierce chance above his head at cover, Kim Barnett and Matt Windows survived to take Gloucestershire to 44 for two, stil 294 behind.

With 37 overs lost to the elements on the first two days, only 45 could be fitted in yesterday, and Paul Collingwood would be praying hard last night for sufficient play today to enable him to mark his captaincy debut with a resounding triumph.

From the moment he won the toss everything bar the weather has gone well for him as Durham amassed 470 for eight declared then had the visitors reeling at 95 for six at the close on Saturday.

Durham's total was their highest in a championship match at the Riverside, easily beating the 396 they scored in a drawn game involving two weakened attacks against Glamorgan in 1998.

It was also the first time they had gained the maximum of five batting points since they scored 479 for nine against Derbyshire at Darlington two years ago.

After an 11.15 start yesterday only 4.3 overs were bowled before rain prevented a restart until 2.30 and after the overnight pair were winkled out another shower intervened with the score on 132 for eight.

This prompted the umpires to call for an early tea, during which the sun came out and on the resumption Durham needed only five balls to wrap up the innings.

Hunter had left-hander Ian Fisher well caught by Graeme Bridge at first slip, then James Averis offered no stroke and was bowled by Bridge.

The left-arm spinner had also beaten Jack Russell's defensive push with his sixth ball to bowl the wicketkeeper after he had defied Durham for 19 overs to make 15.

Bridge had figures of two for one in 14 balls, while Hunter had three for 62 after bowling far more accurately than during his sub-standard performance at Cardiff.

Although he conceded five runs an over on Saturday, many of those flew off the edge to third man, and it was no more than he deserved when he made one take off to find Jeremy Snape's edge on the way to Andrew Pratt in the last over of the day.

Hunter began Gloucestershire's first innings debacle by knocking out Barnett's middump, while Neil Killeen's 12-over spell of sustained accuracy earned him two for 22.

With the spirited support of Mark Davies, the new ball pair found life in the pitch where the Gloucestershire seamers had conspicuously failed.

There was a brief rally from Taylor and Snape, who put on 52 for the fifth wicket before both were out in the last two overs of the day.

Saturday's highlight was a career-best 93 by Andrew Pratt, who ran himself out an over before the declaration.

After Nicky Peng fell playing across the line for the third successive championship innings, Pratt put on 107 for the sixth wicket with Gordon Muchall.

They took the score from 300 to 350 in only six overs, both hitting three successive balls for four as Ben Gannon and James Averis bowled too short.

Muchall, again looking very much the part, completed his third half-century in successive first-class matches off 88 balls but then fell lbw for 52 trying to sweep off-spinner Snape.

Pratt pulled Gannon for six on his way to 50 off 63 balls and swept past his previous best of 68 not out during a stand of 70 with Hunter, who drove Snape over the sightscreen before being held at long-off.

There were several more cracking shots in Hunter's 33, and after his two ducks at Cardiff his transformation has played a big part in Durham's improvement.