PAUL Horton’s 94 kept leaders Lancashire afloat in the battle of the top two at Chester-le-Street as they reached 201 for five at tea.

Although he gave no clear chance, Horton led a charmed life. An edge on one brushed Gordon Muchall’s fingertips at first slip, a leading edge on 19 just evaded cover and a skied hook on 65 fell into space.

He showed good judgement of what to leave, however, and remained alert to the chance to dispatch poor balls, hitting 15 fours.

Three came in one over from Ben Stokes – a pull, a square drive and an on-drive – to take him into the 90s. But he was then becalmed and eight overs later Stokes nipped one back to hit the off stump.

That ended a stand of 72 with Steve Croft, both batsmen having set out to leave whatever they didn’t need to play at in the post-lunch spell from Graham Onions and Callum Thorp.

Those two had taken a wicket each in reducing Lancashire to nine for two, but dropped too short too often in the afternoon. Watched by England selector James Whitaker, Onions did not enhance his chances of being called up for the second Test in place of James Anderson.

Croft made 38 before he was brilliantly caught at the second attempt by Michael Di Venuto at slip off Ian Blackwell.

It was Di Venuto's third catch of the innings to follow the five he took in the match at Edgbaston last week.