THE lenses were focused on Darren Gough's bid for a Test recall at Riverside yesterday, but two more fast bowling showmen took star billing on a day of rich entertainment.

Shoaib Akhtar and Steve Kirby enjoyed a good, old-fashioned joust, which the Yorkshire redhead shaded as he survived everything the Pakistani could throw at him, including a beamer, and later ended his swashbuckling innings of 25.

Shoaib hit an enormous six over mid-wicket off Anthony McGrath and drove Gough first bounce over the rope at long-off before another well-struck shot ended in the hands of Matthew Wood on the backward square leg boundary.

Kirby also took the first two wickets and finished with four for 93 to take his tally to 23 wickets in the last five championship innings.

Durham replied to Yorkshire's 448 with 327. Needing 299 to avoid the follow-on, they were guided past the target by an impressive 50 from Graeme Bridge, who became the fifth batsman to pass 30, although no-one progressed beyond 54.

Durham scored at four and a half an over on a day which produced 437 runs and ended at 7.25 when the last two overs were lost to bad light with Yorkshire on two for none, leading by 123.

Yorkshire lost two wickets for the addition of only six runs when they resumed on 340 for six.

But with Craig White progressing majestically to finish on 135 not out, 102 more runs were added to give Yorkshire their biggest total against Durham.

There was barely a dull moment in the morning as Shoaib, having earned a soft wicket with the second ball of the day, suddenly found the energy to bowl an 11-over spell.

He bowled only 14 overs in four wicketless spells on the first day, which was similar to his efforts against Northants last week. But suddenly he smelt blood.

Andy Gray was his early victim, hitting a short ball of no great pace straight to cover, and with the tail exposed the Pakistani switched on the after-burners.

He produced a brute to have Gough caught by Phil Mustard, then ended a stand of 36 by forcing Ryan Sidebottom to fend to short leg.

Then came the real entertainment as he became increasingly frantic in his efforts to remove Kirby. In his ninth over he fired a ball of fearsome pace and lift down the leg side for four byes, prompting a cry of "well batted extras" from a Yorkshire fan.

The first ball of Shoaib's 11th over was a beamer which fortunately also flew down the leg side. Although he half raised his hand in apology before turning away, the incensed Kirby flung his helmet to the ground and marched after him, prompting White to intervene.

Kirby was hit somewhere around the waist two balls later, falling over before springing straight back up in another defiant gesture. An attempted yorker then brought applause from the members before Kirby carted the next ball to cow corner for four to huge cheers from the Yorkshire contingent.

After taking three for 33 in his 11 overs, Shoaib was finally replaced by Bridge, who had Kirby caught off bat and pad with the last ball of his second over.

White, 82 overnight, remained totally composed throughout as he took his tally from his last four first-class innings to 360 for once out.

Whereas Stephen Harmison bowled well on the first morning, when Shoaib didn't, this time it was the other way round and White cut Harmison for his 18th four to reach his century off 199 balls. He hit six more boundaries in facing a further 40 balls.

It was an innings stamped with England class and it would be a huge shame if his rib injury does spell the end of his career as a Test all-rounder.

With the Press box overflowing because of Gough watch, Michael initially stymied Darren's bid for a place in the England squad to be named tomorrow.

The Dazzler bowled only four overs in an opening spell of little menace, although he looked fit and lively in getting through 18 overs in total.

Kirby struck in his third and fourth overs, pinning Jon Lewis lbw on the back foot and moving one away to have Gordon Muchall caught at the wicket.

After his 150 against Northants, runs flowed gloriously from both of Gary Pratt's bats as he broke his first one early in his innings.

Perfectly-timed cuts and effortless clips to leg sped to the boundary as Pratt brought up the 50 stand in six overs by cutting Gough for four.

He was obviously in danger of getting carried away, and after playing and missing several times just outside off stump before reaching 50 off 46 balls it was ironic that he got out three balls later trying to withdraw his bat.

Shaping the ball away from him in an impressive spell, Sidebottom had beaten him several times and was rewarded with a catch by Gray at third slip.

The battle of Goughs resumed with Michael surviving a big lbw appeal from Darren, whose reaction persuaded umpire Tony Clarkson to have a word with him.

Vince Wells also played fluently, hitting nine fours as he contributed 42 to a stand of 73 before edging off-spinner Gray to slip.

Gough advanced to loft Gray to mid-wicket for his ninth boundary to reach 50 off 102 balls. But he also failed to go on, snared by his namesake, who induced edges with successive balls.

The first was badly dropped by Yuvraj Singh, the only slip, but he made amends by diving to his left to hold the next one.

There was some misfortune about the next two wickets as both were from leg-side catches by wicketkeeper Simon Guy.

Nicky Peng followed an in-swinger from Sidebottom and Guy leapt to his left for an athletic take, while his next one came standing up to McGrath.

It was a poor ball, drifting well down leg side. Mustard dabbed at it and was adjudged to have nicked it, which was a sad end to another promising innings of 32.

Durham still needed 15 to avoid the follow-on when Shoaib was eighth out, but Nicky Hatch helped take the score to 300 before he was also out unluckily, the ball trickling back off his bat on to the stumps.

Bridge, who cut and drove very crisply, hit Gray over long-on for six and completed his 50 off 55 balls before Kirby pinned him lbw

Read more about Durham here.