DURHAM’S safety-first approach saw them bat on to reach 240 for six before setting Middlesex a target of 304 in 51 overs, as predicted in this morning’s Northern Echo.

In glorious conditions there was never much chance of dismissing the visitors in half a day and at tea they were 41 for one from 15 overs.

Hopes did rise when Callum Thorp struck with the 12th ball and he was very unlucky not to have a second wicket in the tenth over.

Sam Robson came into the match as the country’s leading run scorer but after his first innings duck he made seven before he followed an away swinger from Thorp and edged to Phil Mustard.

Australian left-hander Chris Rogers had already had one lucky escape when he shaped to turn Graham Onions’ third ball to leg and it lobbed off the shoulder of the bat just over Will Smith at gully.

Rogers was even luckier with his score on nine, when Thorp’s lbw appeal was inexplicably turned down by umpire Martin Bodenham.

When Durham tried to press on after lunch Paul Collingwood steered a catch to third man to depart for 18 then Phil Mustard drove to mid-off.

Gareth Breese could hardly get bat on ball for two overs but then picked up Gareth Berg very sweetly over square leg for six.

He played more nice shots in his unbeaten 20, while Scott Borthwick was still there on 83 when the declaration came.