Worcestershire Seconds suffered a batting collapse after making a promising start – including a half century from George Rhodes – on the opening day of the Second Eleven Championship clash with Durham Seconds at Brandon CC.
The visitors won the toss and seemed set for a substantial total after reaching 164-2 at lunch.
But the last eight wickets went down for 41 runs in 17.3 overs as they were dismissed for 209 in 53.3 overs.
An unbeaten century from Durham captain Graham Clark helped Durham reach 221-3 off 48 overs by the close – a lead of 12.
Worcestershire openers Matt Pardoe and Rhodes batted well and brought up the 50 in the 11th over.
They were parted from the last ball of the 14th over when Pardoe was caught for 31 by Clark with the score on 70.
Will MacVicar batted in the same vein as Pardoe and, together with Rhodes, steered Worcestershire to 100 in the 23rd over.
Shortly afterwards, Rhodes reached his half century from 59 balls but was caught by Clark for 55 in the next over.
At this point runs seemed to flow easily and MacVicar and captain Gareth Andrew took the score past 150 two overs before lunch.
Worcestershire went into lunch in a commanding position and a large target looked possible at this stage.
But four balls after the resumption MacVicar was caught behind for 41 which started the downfall due mainly to a devastating spell of bowling from Paul Coughlin.
Before lunch Coughlin had been conceding five runs an over but he returned first over after the interval for a spell of 8-5-12-4 and overall figures of 5-39.
When Worcestershire bowled, Chris Russell struck in the fifth over with a catch behind taken by Alex Milton.
But Durham put together second, third and fourth wicket partnerships all in excess of 50 runs.
Clark ended the day unbeaten on 110 from 158 balls.
Worcestershire rang the changes by trying a variety of bowlers and there were wickets apiece for Russell, Graeme Cessford and Rhodes.
Worcestershire Seconds first innings: Pardoe c Clark b McCarthy 31, Rhodes c Clark b Coughlin 55, MacVicar c Poynter b Coughlin 41, Andrew c Coughlin b Bousefield 27, Hepburn c and b Coughlin 8, Harris run out 0, Milton lbw Coughlin 18, Williams not out 7, Russell c Poynton b Coughlin 0, Harrison b Main 4, Cessford c Pringle b McCarthy 0. Extras 18. Total 209 all out (53.3 overs).
Bowling: Bousefield 1-54, Main 1-31, McCarthy 2-19, Coughlin 5-39.
FOW: 70, 113, 168, 168, 168, 185, 200, 202, 208, 209.
Durham Seconds first innings: Clark not out 110, Singh c Milton b Russell 13, Pringle c Pardoe b Cessford 42, Carr c and b Rhodes 21, Poynton not out 26. Extras 9. Total 221-3 (48 overs).
Bowling: Russell 9-0-48-1, Whiles 4-0-26-0, Harrison 4-1-15-0, Cessford 9-2-36-1, Williams 10-0-35-0, Rhodes 5-0-31-1, MacVicar 6-2-16-0, Pardoe 1-0-4-0.
FOW: 33, 112, 165.
