COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, New Road:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Worcestershire 356, Durham 390-3 (Durham 7pts, Worcs 5pts)
23-26 September

Di Venuto has scored over 1,600 runs in the Championship this season

Record-breaking Durham batsman Michael Di Venuto extended a prolific sequence against Worcestershire in New Road's final County Championship game of 2009.

The 35-year-old's fifth hundred against Worcestershire (113) gave the county champions a platform to make 390-3 after the home side were all out 356.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul's third ton in four innings then turned up the heat.

Along with Dale Benkenstein (91no), Chanderpaul ended the day on 100 after sharing an unbroken partnership of 183.

Di Venuto's crusade against Worcestershire began with two centuries when he was with Derbyshire and continued with an undefeated 155 at New Road on his debut for Durham in 2007.

This season he has doubled up with 100 not out when Worcestershire lost at the Riverside in July and now this latest effort to virtually guarantee Durham's bid to become the first unbeaten Division One champions since Warwickshire in 2004.

In taking his season's tally to 1,601 runs, beating his own personal best Championship haul in a season (1,538, for Derbyshire in 2002), Di Venuto reached two other milestones.

He became the first player to make 1,500 Championship runs in a season for Durham, while also equalling Paul Collingwood's 2005 county record of six centuries

His impressive figures against Worcestershire - which also include eight Championship fifties and a one-day hundred - were quickly topped up in a flying start against a young, under-strength, under-performing attack.

Jack Shantry, newly signed by Worcestershire on a two-year contract, was easily the most economical bowler.

He also enjoyed the biggest cheer of the morning session when, having resumed on 347-9, he secured a fourth batting point before being caught behind off Liam Plunkett.

Shantry's edged boundary took Worcestershire past Glamorgan's total of 88.5 points in 2005 - the lowest by any county since the Championship switched to two divisions.

BBC Hereford and Worcester's Dave Bradley gives his day's summary:

"It was another long day in the field for Worcestershire as the experienced Durham batsman took toll of the home side's young attack.

"There was no lack of enthusiasm but there was a 'four ball' in every over, and two in some.

"Di Venuto's innings was the best of the day.

"He looked set for a double hundred, with only a mistake likely to get him out when he obliged, wandering down the track to Moeen Ali, and missing a straight one.

"In the evening sunlight, Chanderpaul showed his array of strokes, reaching his hundred before the close.

"But he will have score better hundreds against far better attacks.

"It is a steep learning curve for the home bowlers, who will not come up against batsmen of this class in Division Two next season.

"But, missing Matt Mason in this game, they will need a couple of old heads to bowl line and length.

"It could be another long day for Worcestershire on Friday as they look down the barrel of another innings defeat."

BBC Newcastle's Martin Emmerson offers his daily Durham verdict:

"Durham continue to break records throughout this momentous season and this time it was Michael Di Venuto's turn.

"And there are still more runs to be made here by the Durham batsman as they put a blunt Worcestershire attack to the sword.

"The 183-run unbroken partnership between Chanderpaul and Benkenstein is also a record for any wicket against Worcestershire.

"And, on this evidence, they could probably bat throughout Friday as well!"

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