Worcestershire Seconds fought back with a trio of late wickets on the opening day of the three-day clash with Durham Seconds at Darlington.
Durham reached 114-2 in reply to Worcestershire's 225 all out in which Alexei Kervezee and Alex Hepburn scored half centuries.
But then three wickets fell for 15 runs and the day ended with the game more evenly poised as Durham closed on 129-5 – still 94 in arrears.
Worcestershire elected to bat and openers Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Brett D'Oliveira were both caught at first slip off Brydon Carse.
Kervezee came to the wicket at 21-2 and was dropped twice by keeper Stuart Poynter and at mid wicket. But he also produced some attractive shots in making 67 off 79 balls with 11 boundaries.
Krvezee added 59 for the fourth wicket with skipper Shaaiq Choudhry (16) and he was eventually fifth out at 119.
The second half of the innings was held together by Hepburn who struck 53 off 90 balls with three sixes and four fours.
He put on 48 for the eighth wicket with Michael Hill (31) and was last out. Carse finished with the impressive figures of 6-42 from 17 overs.
When Durham batted, Michael Hill quickly removed Graham Clark (1) before opener Jack Burnham and Phil Mustard (33) added 70 for the second wicket.
Burnham and Ryan Pringle (33) figured in a stand of 44 before the latter was bowled by Hepburn.
Adil Rashid then dismissed Poynter (4) – caught at first slip by Kohler-Cadmore – and Jamie Harrison (0) to leave Burnham unbeaten on 49.
Worcestershire Seconds – first innings
Kohler-Cadmore c Pringle b Carse 9
D'Oliveira c Pringle b Carse 2
Rhodes lbw Arshad 12
Kervezee lbw Harrison 67
Choudhry c Poynter b Carse 16
Andrew c Poynter b Harrison 21
Hepburn lbw Harrison 53
Hill c Pringle b Carse 31
Tongue lbw Carse 1
Butler c Poynter b Carse 1
Rashid not out 0
Extras 12
Total (all out) 225 in 68.2 overs
FOW: 8, 21, 27, 86, 119, 140, 188, 192, 200, 225.
Bowling: Carse 6-42, Harrison 3-19, Arshad 1-35.
Durham Seconds – first innings
Clark lbw Hill 1
Burnham not out 49
Mustard lbw Wade 33
Pringle b Hepburn 33
Poynter c Kohler-Cadmore b Rashid 4
Harrison c and b Rashid 0
Hickey not out 0
Extras 9
Total (for 5 wickets) 129 in 31.2 overs
FOW: 1, 71, 114, 121, 129
Bowling
Tongue 7-1-20-0
Hill 6-2-31-1
Hepburn 9.2-3-23-1
Wade 5-0-47-1
Rashid 4-3-2-2
