THE infestation of Australian left-handers burrowed deep under Durham's skin yesterday before they rid themselves of the major pest, Phil Jaques.

Durham have already suffered this season at the hands of Michael di Venuto, who made 150 at Riverside, and Simon Katich, 135 at the Rose Bowl, as well as being bowled out in their first innings at Worcester by South Australia left-armer Mark Harrity.

There were three Aussie left-handers in Northamptonshire's top four and it was almost impossible to distinguish between Jaques and skipper Michael Hussey during a second wicket stand of 92 as the visitors reached 320 for eight, seven behind.

Jaques, 24, from New South Wales, maintained his place just behind di Venuto in the race to 1,000 first-class runs when his 109 took his tally to 840.

He is yet another backdoor entrant to county cricket via his ancestry earning him an EU passport, but now finds himself having to decide whether to come back for a second season as that would make him an overseas player in Australian eyes.

Northants, unsurprisingly, want him back, but he has been named in the NSW squad for next season and said: "I am keeping in touch with the New South Wales coach to get the gossip on where I stand. I am just trying to focus on the rest of the season and have a big year."

There were no fireworks from Shoaib Akhtar, who looked well below full throttle and was sparingly used in four short spells.

Durham added only two to their overnight total before they were all out for 327, then Shoaib bowled only four of the 30 overs before lunch, prompting members to ask after his health.

The word from the dressing room was that he was fine and he emerged apparently refreshed by the break to find the shoulder of Hussey's bat and have him caught by Phil Mustard.

His next over, however, went for 12 runs, and after conceding only seven in his opening four overs, his next seven - in two spells - cost 39.

He was lucky to pick up a second wicket when Graeme Swann pulled a catch straight to Nicky Peng at square leg.

But Shoaib also looked unfortunate not to have Toby Bailey lbw on a day when umpire Jeff Evans steadfastly refused to raise his finger.

Nicky Hatch had two good shouts against Hussey turned down and successive full-length balls from Shoaib with Bailey on 22 failed to bring a response.

The Pakistani conceded only three runs in his last four-over burst to finish with two for 49.

Although Hatch deservedly picked up two wickets, like Shoaib and Liam Plunkett he struggled to extract anything from a pitch which seemed to have lost some of its life.

While ignoring Michael Gough, Durham relied on Nicky Phillips to bowl 33 overs unchanged from the Lumley End.

There were cries for his removal in his fourth over, when Jaques, who had already amply displayed his liking for the shot, cut him for three fours.

Most of the other six boundaries in his 74-ball half-century came from this shot, although he also played nicely off his toes.

The other Aussie left-hander, Jeff Cook, proved not quite so adept at the cut as his partner as he edged to Mustand in attempting the stroke off Phillips.

Although nothing went to hand, there were a number of edges through the slips, including the one off Plunkett which got David Sales off the mark.

Sales hit six more fours in motoring along to 33 off 38 balls before one of the most talented of English batsmen self-destructed in typical fashion by driving to mid-off.

Australians rarely give their wicket away and Jaques continued to look secure until he almost went on 97, a ball from Shoaib lobbing off the shoulder of the bat only to fall short of Gary Pratt, racing in from backward point.

Jaques, who made 222 against Yorkshire at Northampton, looked keen to build on his 152-ball century, but from the second ball after tea Peng dived forward at silly mid-off to hold a bat-pad catch off Phillips.

At 232 for six Durham had hopes of a healthy lead, but Bailey and Damien Wright put on 61 before the latter drove to mid-on.

Taking the new ball at 298 for seven after 90 overs, Plunkett had Bailey caught at first slip by Vince Wells for 39.

* Yorkshire struggled to stay in the game at Headingley yesterday after a maiden first class century from 18-year-old wicketkeeper, Parthiv Patel, had enabled India A to declare on 336 for eight with a first innings lead of 90, writes David Warner.

Opener Chris Taylor then failed for the second time in the match, and Yorkshire were left in difficulties, ending the day on 27 for one at stumps.

The slightly built Parthiv hit the headlines last summer when he made his Test debut against England at Trent Bridge without any previous first class experience and at 17 years, 153 days he became the youngest ever Test wicketkeeper.

His maiden century contained off-side strokes of the highest class, most of them all along the ground, and he reached three figures off 120 balls with 19 elegant boundaries.

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