THE Oval Test proved that cricket matches are not decided on the first day, and four wickets for Graeme Bridge revived Durham when they looked set for a Bristol bombing.

They will need to bat well today if they are to maintain their promotion hopes, but at least the evening recovery yesterday should give them some momentum.

Durham again gambled on playing two spinners but lost the toss and at the start of the last over before tea Nicky Phillips had figures of none for 98.

He then had Matt Windows caught at the wicket, but at 293 for four Gloucestershire were already well in command and they were all out for 374. Durham had one over to bat and closed on two without loss.

It could have been worse as the hosts were 240 for two in mid-afternoon, but Bridge's four wickets kept Durham interested in a game they cannot afford to lose.

They suffered a cruel piece of misfortune when Jonty Rhodes had his leg stump rattled by a Shoaib Akhtar yorker a split second after umpire Trevor Jesty called "no-ball."

It is only the third time the Pakistani has over-stepped for Durham but it proved costly as the former South African Test star was on 14 at the time and went on to make 103.

Durham-born left-hander Phil Weston pulled Liam Plunkett for six in the second over then gloved a leg-side catch to Phil Mustard three overs later.

But that was Shoaib's only success until 20 minutes before the close, and until Bridge took three wickets in the evening the rest of the bowling presented few problems.

Rhodes' century was supported by 97 from Tim Hancock and 59 by Craig Spearman, who scored one-day and championship centuries against Durham at Bristol last season.

Plunkett was preferred to Neil Killeen and he and Shoaib initially kept the free-scoring Spearman quiet as he scored only two off the first nine overs.

But Phillips was on as early as the 14th over and the former New Zealand Test batsman drove him for two sixes over long-on in his second over.

Spearman then greeted Bridge by pulling his second ball over the rope at mid-wicket and after completing a 75-ball half-century it was a surprise when a ball of low bounce from Bridge had him lbw.

The spinners took six wickets between them but conceded a combined total of 237 runs and it would be no surprise if Durham sign Gareth Breese, who has played one Test for the West Indies.

He impressed with his off-spin and batting during two matches for Durham seconds, but there might be competition for his signature as his parentage entitles him to a British passport.

There was some turn yesterday, but Phillips bowled two bad balls in most overs and was lucky to remove Rhodes when he top-edged a sweep to short fine leg, finishing with two for 139 in 43 overs.

Rhodes had just completed his fourth championship hundred of the season, and second in successive games, and had faced 160 balls and hit ten fours and three sixes when he was out.

Never afraid to take the aerial route, he showed his class by driving Bridge over long-on for six and late cutting the next ball for four.

Hancock survived a big appeal for caught behind off Paul Collingwood on 18, but was largely untroubled as he hit 11 fours in making his highest championship score of the season.

Shoaib returned late in the day and it was surprising that the umpires did not offer the light as he had Ian Fisher caught behind and bowled Martyn Ball to finish with three for 30.

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