WILL Smith’s dismissal for 66 at 2.20 confirmed Yorkshire’s relegation, but Durham’s title hopes were not being helped by events at the Rose Bowl.

Hampshire kept dropping catches and leaders Warwickshire were 185 for two at tea, while Durham were 209 for five against Worcestershire.

When Smith was bowled by an in-swinging yorker from Kemar Roach it gave Worcestershire their first bowling point, which was all they needed to ensure they stay above Yorkshire.

Although the strong wind made Alan Richardson look as though he was wading through treacle, the strong seamer kept going manfully after lunch.

He often beat the bat and had bowled 13 overs for 16 runs when Smith twice edged him for four.

Richardson finally had his reward when he had Paul Collingwood caught behind for 22, but when both he and Roach were rested the visitors’ lack of back-up was exposed.

They might also have been worried about their over-rate reading minus two, with the attendant threat of a points deduction, as they turned to the spin of Moeen Ali and the gentle medium pace of Daryl Mitchell.

Ian Blackwell had made 12 when he pulled Mitchell for six then drove him through mid-off for four. But a gentle wobbler then had him lbw when half forward and Mitchell was withdrawn with one for 11 from one over.

Phil Mustard got off the mark by pulling seamer Richard Jones over long leg for six and was on 17 at tea, with Dale Benkenstein on 18.

Second-placed Lancashire were struggling at Taunton, where a James Hildreth century had taken Somerset to 236 for three.