KEATON Jennings fell two runs short of what would have been a carefully-compiled century five minutes before lunch, while nightwatchman Chris Rushworth extended his vigil for 95 minutes.

Durham added 85 in the session, taking the total to 242 for six, still 221 behind, as the match continues to meander towards a draw.

With the new ball due they still have to concentrate on getting past the follow-on target of 314,but will hope to press on this afternoon and they have plenty of firepower right down the order.

On a pleasant morning and with the pitch remaining sound, Middlesex were up against it in the absence of hamstring victim Tim Murtagh once Durham had survived Steve Finn's opening burst.

They opened up with Ollie Rayner at the other end and after blocking the off-spinner's first over Rushworth drove him for four and six.

He then knuckled down, however, with runs drying to a trickle as Jennings added only 20 in the first 75 minutes to his overnight 61.

He then cut Neil Dexter's medium pace for two and four, only his second boundary of the morning after an early bottom-edged four off Finn.

Rushworth looked fortunate to survive an lbw appeal when pushing forward against Rayner on 17. The same umpire, Peter Hartley, took an eternity to give him out for 40, six short of his career-best when trying to sweep Rayner.

The arrival of Paul Collingwood prompted the return of Finn, who had a big lbw appeal turned down with the captain on one.

With two overs to go to lunch, Middlesex skipper Adam Voges gave his occasional left-arm spin an airing and after both batsmen picked up singles Jennings sat back to cut and edged to the wicketkeeper.

After reaching 50 off 89 balls, he had taken a further 125 to add 48 but had done an excellent job for the team.