GORDON Muchall shrugged off his part in the running out of Ben Stokes for five as he completed his fifth championship half-century of the season at Worcester.
He and Dale Benkenstein took the total past 100 after Durham lost both openers, edging to the slips, with the score on 24.
It became 43 for three when Stokes departed. Muchall played the ball through the covers off the back foot and had no hesitation in going back for a second run. Stokes immediately said no, but Muchall kept on going and they ended up at the same end.
The day’s second interruption for rain delayed the resumption after lunch by 20 minutes, but as the day began to improve so did Durham’s fortunes.
Muchall often played and missed against division one’s leading bowlers, Damien Wright and Alan Richardson, who took their combined tally for the season to 50 with a wicket each.
The breaks allowed them to bowl unchanged for 20 overs and when Richardson rested the release of pressure was obvious as 24-year-old Richard Jones conceded 26 runs in three overs.
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