Notts v Durham (day four, lunch) (From Durham Times)

Bad morning

1:09pm Saturday 18th August 2012 in Sport By Tim Wellock

AFTER snatching victory from the jaws of defeat against Middlesex, Durham are threatening the reverse at Trent Bridge.

They set Nottinghamshire a target of 366 in 90 overs and at lunch they are 94 without loss in 25 overs.

Mark Stoneman’s batting yesterday showed what was possible on this pitch and Riki Wessels has been in commanding form, reaching 66.

In sunny conditions the ball has not swung, and when that’s the case Chris Rushworth and Callum Thorp are not going to carry the same threat as at places like Arundel. If Mitch Claydon was worthy of a new two-year contract, why isn’t he playing here?

Graham Onions could not be expected to do it all again. He beat the bat a couple of times in his opening five-over spell and returned for two more overs before lunch without posing the same threat as in the first innings.

Thorp found the edge of Alex Hales’ bat when he was on 17, but it fell just short of Scott Borthwick at second slip. Otherwise there hasn’t been a hint of a chance.

Wessels went to his 50 with two back-foot fours in three balls from Thorp, the second one fiercely pulled through mid-wicket.

With 75 on the board after 19 overs Thorp made way for Borthwick, but the leg-spinner’s three overs did not suggest that he will be able to rip through the home line-up this afternoon.

They are already scoring at the required rate and have no need to take risks.

Durham added 24 in four overs this morning for the loss of Paul Collingwood for 59. He was bowled round his legs by Graeme White the ball after striking the left-arm spinner over mid-wicket for six.

Collingwood was trying to paddle this one to fine leg, but Onions opted to hit with the spin, stepping back to leg to thrash White over extra cover.

He then lofted him to long-off, where Luke Fletcher succeeded in making Ian Blackwell look like Usain Bolt as he failed to get under what should have been a catch.

Onions ran a couple of twos, but he would not have wanted to do too much running and the declaration came when he had made 11 off 12 balls.