COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP, DIVISION ONE, Riverside:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Worcestershire 193 and 179, Durham 194 & 64-1(Durham 3pts, Worcs 3pts)
30 June-3 July 2009 (1100-1800 BST)

Liam Plunkett was only playing because of Durham's two England Lions calls

Durham need just 115 runs to win on day four against Worcestershire at the Riverside after a fine performance from seam bowler Liam Plunkett.

Plunkett took 5-56 to make it 11 in the match as Worcestershire were bowled out for 179, Alex Kervezee's 66 proving a rare highlight for the visitors.

Chasing a target of 179, Durham made steady progress second time around, Michael Di Venuto racing to 43.

Kyle Coetzer went for 15, but Will Smith guided Durham to 64-1 at stumps.

After a rain-affected day two, Worcestershire had bowled their way back into contention but Durham were equally keen to hold onto their status as league leaders.

Daryl Mitchell shuffled onto 15 before he became a victim of Mark Davies, before Plunkett removed Moeen Ali to claim the first of his five wickets.

Captain Will Smith continued to rotate his bowlers in the absence of England Lions duo Graham Onions and Steve Harmison.

And Callum Thorp, Mitchell Claydon and spinner Ian Blackwell all got in on the wicket-taking act as Worcestershire's badly-weakened middle-order collapsed.

Dutch batsman Kervezee remained the thorn in Durham's side, showing patience to accumulate 66 from 141 balls before a combination of Plunkett and wicketkeeper Phil Mustard saw him depart.

Plunkett then gorged himself on the tail, in tandem with Blackwell, only Kabir Ali offering real resistance to finish on 30 not out.

With a realistic target of 179 to chase in bright sunshine, Durham made a good start to their second innings with Di Venuto and Kyle Coetzer at the helm.

But, while Coetzer went for 15, Di Venuto (44) made good progress alongside captain Smith to end the day within sight of a final-day victory.

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