GORDON Muchall and Ian Blackwell added only five runs to their record fifth-wicket stand for Durham at Worcester this morning.

The partnership was worth 247 when Blackwell was bowled by Australian Damien Wright for 134 in the second over.

Wright and Alan Richardson again bowled very well for the first hour, but having survived that, Muchall was undone by a rare good delivery from Richard Jones.

He pushed forward and edged to Vikram Solanki at first slip to fall for 175, having added 123 since Solanki put down an identical chance.

Muchall was out in the 100th over and with the total on 408 Durham had achieved maximum batting points for the third time this season.

With the support bowling again looking well below standard, left-handers Phil Mustard and Scott Borthwick were able to prosper, taking the score to 490 for six at lunch.

Mustard completed a 69-ball half-century by pulling his fifth four off Jones, who after 15 overs had conceded 111 runs. Richardson, by contrast, had bowled 29 overs for 76 runs. Mustard was on 67 at lunch and Borthwick had made 30.