Onions picks off the Middlesex line-up

DURHAM will be praying that the weather allows them to avoid a repeat of the Yorkshire match after Graham Onions bowled them into a dominant position against Middlesex.

On a day of frequent interruptions Onions took five for 39, but in another example of batting becoming easier against an ageing ball the visitors recovered from 35 for five to reach 196.

They trailed by 63 and that became 100 after Mark Stoneman took the attack to Middlesex when Durham had to bat for what looked likely to be a tricky 11 overs.

He took advantage of some short bowling to cut and pull his way to 31, while Keaton Jennings survived without much difficulty and Durham closed on 37 without loss.

In their last home match Durham dominated for three days against Yorkshire, only for rain to prompt a declaration which proved too generous. And with further showers forecast today setting a target could again prove tricky.

Neil Dexter top-scored for Middlesex with 52, several of his nine boundaries being edged to third man and Durham continued to leak runs in that area as ninth-wicket pair James Harris and Toby Roland-Jones put on 45.

After two weeks without bowling because of his back injury, Ben Stokes took a wicket in his second over but then proved costly.

While Callum Thorp did an excellent job of bowling into the cold wind, Stokes found he had almost as tough a task as the ice cream man, who optimistically arrived at the same time as the cement wagon.

While work on the foundations for the new stand continued for most of the day, Mr Whippy beat a hasty retreat. Perhaps it was the hailstorm which persuaded him sales were unlikely.

Stokes began to bowl too short and left-hander John Simpson punched two back-foot fours through the covers in an over which cost 13 and launched the recovery.

At that point neither Stokes nor Mark Wood was able to make an impression as Simpson and Dexter put on 68 for the sixth wicket.

When they came together, 65 were still needed to avoid the follow-on, but Onions had to be recalled to part them.

There was an element of fortune about the breakthrough as a short ball appeared to have Simpson in two minds and he toe-ended a catch to mid-off.

Paul Collingwood then clung on at the second attempt to an edge from Gareth Berg to give Onions five for 26 at the time. Those figures were slightly spoilt by Dexter taking three fours off an over, two of them off a thick edge.

The ex-Kent right-hander then went to his 98-ball half-century by cover driving Stokes for his ninth four, but after conceding 51 runs in ten overs Stokes nipped one back to find an inside edge and have Dexter caught behind.

Wood bowled a good long spell in the evening and often beat the bat, but the ninth-wicket stand was ended by a full toss from Scott Borthwick following several long hops. Harris hit it firmly to mid-wicket, where Gareth Breese held a good catch.

Without addition Wood finally had his reward when Roland-Jones chipped a slower ball to mid-on.

In the morning play began 45 minutes late with Middlesex on 11 for two and a further half hour was lost, but Onions took two wickets to have Middlesex rocking on 31 for four.

Joe Denly was caught at second slip by Borthwick and left-hander Dawid Malan fell lbw.

The resumption after lunch was delayed then in the third over Stokes hit Tom Smith on the boot to gain an lbw verdict. At 35 for five the rain immediately returned and the rest of the day was fairly frustrating for Durham until they enjoyed a profitable final hour.

SCORECARD

Durham v Middlesex
At Emirates Durham ICG.
Overnight: Durham 259 (P Mustard 62, S G
Borthwick 52; C D Collymore4-61). Middlesex
11-2.

Middlesex First Innings
J L Denly c Borthwick b Onions ............ 9
T M Smith lbw b Stokes ........................19
D J Malan lbw b Onions ........................ 0
N J Dexter c Mustard b Stokes .............52
J A Simpson c Thorp b Onions .............42
G K Berg c Collingwood b Onions ........ 6
J A Harris c Breese b Borthwick ...........37
T S Roland-Jones c Onions b Wood .....19
C D Collymore not out .......................... 0
Extras (b1 lb7 w1)......................9
Total (68.2 overs) ...................196
Fall: 1-1 2-3 3-25 4-31 5-35 6-103 7-119 8-
151 9-196
Bowling: Onions 20-5-39-5. Thorp 17-5-29-
1. Stokes 14-1-63-2. Wood 14.2-1-46-1.
Borthwick 3-0-11-1.

Durham Second Innings Close
M D Stoneman not out .........................31
K K Jennings not out ............................ 6
Extras ........................................0
Total 0 wkts (11 overs)........................37
To Bat: W R Smith, S G Borthwick, B A
Stokes, P D Collingwood, P Mustard, G R
Breese, C D Thorp, M A Wood, G Onions.
Bowling: Collymore 5-2-8-0. Harris 3-0-16-
0. Roland-Jones 3-1-13-0.