DURHAM'S hopes of capitalising on James Weighell's maiden five-wicket haul see-sawed dramatically at Edgbaston yesterday.

Needing 238 to beat Warwickshire, the sixth half-century opening stand in eight innings laid what would have seemed a firm base were it not for the memory of the previous day's collapse.

A strange match in which batting appears to have been at its easiest against the new ball then took another twist as Chris Wright took four for eight in 24 balls.

Like Monday's nine-wicket hero, Chris Woakes, he had been wicketless in his first spell but suddenly began to look unplayable.

But with Keaton Jennings standing reassuringly firm in an unbeaten 88, Durham's slide from 67 without loss to 87 for four was arrested by Paul Collingwood.

He contributed 26 to the unbroken stand of 67 and with six wickets intact Durham require a further 84 on the final day.

Jennings lived dangerously early on, edging fours off Keith Barker and Jeetan Patel and also inside-edging leg-spinner Josh Poysden just wide of leg stump.

There was some controversy surrounding the summoning of Poysden as the stand-in for Woakes, Warwickshire justifying it on the grounds they did not have a like-for-like replacement.

He commanded respect but offered no great threat.

In the morning Weighell was rewarded for lively and skilful bowling with five for 33 as Warwickshire were dismissed for 114. It gave the Stokesley bowler match figures of nine for 130 and got Durham back into the contest.

Three of his victims contributed to their own downfall. Sam Hain chopped a widish ball into his stumps, Tim Ambrose edged a pull on to his thigh to be caught at short leg, and last man Oliver Hannon-Dalby lofted a catch to mid-on.

But Weighell's first two came from excellent balls, extra bounce having Andy Umeed caught behind before a yorker hit Ian Bell on the foot and had him lbw.

The other seamers also played their part in the spirited fightback with three wickets for Graham Onions and a vital one each for Brydon Carse and Barry McCarthy.

Durham's opening stand suggested there was little wrong with the pitch, despite the fall of 20 wickets in just over three sessions. But, as in the first innings, the warning signs were flashing in the shape of Mark Stoneman's extreme caution.

After driving Barker's third ball of the innings for four, he added ten runs in 23 overs before surviving a confident lbw appeal from Patel.

Stoneman celebrated his escape by pulling the next ball for four and was on 23 at tea. But without addition he was lbw when shaping to cut a ball which nipped back.

As Wright had also bowled well in the first innings this was a deserved wicket and it was no great surprise when he emulated Woakes by following up swiftly.

A similar ball hit the top of Scott Borthwick's off stump and three balls later he moved one sharply away to have Jack Burnham caught at second slip.

The fourth wicket was a gift, Michael Richardson clipping off his toes straight to mid-wicket.

But Collingwood matched Jennings' steely determination. The left-handed opener was suitably watchful during and after the collapse but had nine fours in his 120-ball 50.

After that he worked the ball into spaces for ones and twos, while continuing to enjoy some fortune. A top-edged pull off Wright flew over the wicketkeeper for six and on 84 he edged Patel just wide of slip.

There is still time for more twists in this enthralling match, but the fact that Durham have battled back into contention is a tribute to their spirit.