Rankin takes five as Bears rally

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Riverside:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Warwickshire 135 and 127-4, Durham 273 (Durham 5pts, Warwicks 3pts)
19-22 August 2009

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Match scorecard

Boyd Rankin's only previous 'five-for' in first-class cricket came for Ireland

Boyd Rankin was Warwickshire's key man as the Bears bowled themselves back into the game against county champions Durham at the Riverside.

Resuming at 173-4, Division One leaders Durham were bowled out for 273, Rankin returning a county-best 5-85.

The weakened Bears, bowled out for 135 first time round on Wednesday, then did a better job in the second innings, reaching 127-4 by the close.

Jim Troughton (55no) is still there after an 82-run stand with Tim Ambrose.

Earlier former Durham skipper Dale Benkenstein had added just 14 to his overnight score before becoming six- foot seven Irishman Rankin's first victim of the day on 73.

Overnight partner Ian Blackwell had already gone, having added just five before being caught behind off Naqaash Tahir for 53.

Liam Plunkett was unbeaten at the end of Durham's reply on 31.

The struggling, relegation-threatened Bears then collapsed to 34-3, Mitch Claydon taking two of the wickets as Durham opted to continue without Final Test discard Graham Onions.

Durham had no complaints that Onions was not released by England, even though he had not been selected for the final Test at The Oval.

Coach Geoff Cook said: "We had a call on Wednesday evening saying they would prefer to keep Graham involved. He has played his part this summer and deserves to be there."

Warwickshire' also had two England men of their own at The Oval, batsmen Ian Bell and new cap Jonathan Trott. But Troughton's efforts late in the day partially made up for their absence from the Riverside.

The 30-year-old former England one-day international ended a miserable run of form that had seen him go 12 first-class innings without a half-century.

He was well supported by Tim Ambrose (38) in a fourth-wicket stand of 82 that was perhaps crucially ended just before the close.