A BATTING collapse leaves Worcestershire fighting to post a sizeable second innings total against a resurgent Durham at New Road in the LV= County Championship Division One.

After opening up a first innings lead of 125, Worcestershire then slipped from 51-1 to 65-6 in their second innings on a day of fluctuating fortunes.

Skipper Daryl Mitchell (24), Richard Oliver (11), Tom Fell (10), Alex Gidman (6), Alexei Kervezee (0) and Ross Whiteley (0) all fell inside 21 overs before bad light stopped play.

John Hastings (3-6), Chris Rushworth (2-13) and Paul Coughlin (1-7) picked up wickets for Durham.

Worcestershire lead by 190 runs and County duo Ben Cox and Joe Leach will be at the crease when the action gets under way at 11am tomorrow.

Worcestershire appeared in full control when fine bowling from Leach, Charlie Morris and Jack Shantry reduced Durham to 103-9.

But the momentum of the game shifted dramatically after Durham’s 10th wicket pair of Scott Borthwick, who made a century, and Graham Onions added an astonishing 95 runs in 29 overs.

Borthwick was eventually trapped lbw for 103 by Shantry who finished with 4-39 from 21.3 overs to leave Onions 36 not out.

Leach returned 4-77 from 22 overs and Morris 2-48 from 21 overs in Durham's 198.

In reply to Worcestershire’s first innings total of 323, Durham had resumed the day on 14-0 and Keaton Jennings (12) edged a Leach delivery to Mitchell at slip.

Leach made the second breakthrough when Mark Stoneman (14) went for an expansive drive and was bowled.

Skipper Paul Collingwood made just three before he became Leach’s third victim when adjudged lbw with Durham 47-3.

Leach was eventually rested after an excellent spell of 9-0- 28-3 and replaced by Morris at the New Road end and he struck in his first over back into the attack.

Michael Richardson (5) drove at a delivery which left him and was caught behind by Cox.

Shantry settled into his normal immaculate line and length at the Diglis End.

Skipper Paul Collingwood made just three before he became Leach's third victim when adjudged lbw with Durham 47-3.

Leach was eventually rested after an excellent spell of 9-0-28-3 and replaced by Morris at the New Road end and he struck in his first over back into the attack.

Michael Richardson (5) drove at a delivery which left him and was caught behind by Cox.

Shantry settled into his normal immaculate line and length at the Diglis End.

The left-armer was eventually rewarded when Gordon Muchall (1) was adjudged lbw.

In the last over before lunch, Calum MacLeod (3) tried to work Morris through mid wicket and was caught via an inside edge on to his pad by Oliver at short leg.

Coughlin (6) pushed forward to Shantry and Fell pouched a good low catch at third slip.

Shantry then accounted for Hastings (0) in his next over with Oliver holding on to a fourth slip catch at the second attempt from a delivery of extra bounce.

A rising ball from Leach found the edge of the bat of Rushworth (8) and this time Gidman at first slip grasped the chance.

Durham were then 103-9 - 220 in arrears - but resistance came from the last wicket pair of Borthwick and Onions.

Borthwick went to his 50 off 93 balls with eight fours and farmed the strike effectively.

A cover drive for four by Onions off Leach enabled Durham to avoid the possibility of being asked to follow on.

Borthwick completed an excellent century before he finally fell to Shantry.

Meanwhile, a brilliant running catch at third man from Worcestershire all-rounder Moeen Ali secured England’s thrilling 124-run win against New Zealand in the first Test at Lord’s

Moeen brilliantly held last man Trent Boult off Stuart Broad to dismiss the Black Caps for 220 with just 9.3 overs remaining.