GARY Ballance survived until 15 minutes before lunch on a roller-coaster morning to make a season's-best 78 as Yorkshire advanced to 237 for eight, 65 ahead.

The Durham bowlers made a poor start as Ballance and Andrew Gale took 31 off the first four overs.

Graham Onions was swiftly removed, but when he returned 90 minutes later he knocked out Jack Leaning's middle stump and angled one across Ballance to have him caught at second slip.

Yorkshire sped along from their overnight 129 for four to 193 before Gale self-destructed for 28. He took a step down the pitch to off-spinner Ryan Pringle and hit a catch straight to short mid-wicket.

Batting looked easier than on the first day, but seemed to become trickier around noon. Ballance, who had eight fours in his 61-ball half-century, suddenly found progress more difficult.

Usman Arshad had him dropped at first slip by Paul Collingwood on 73, but the miss didn't prove costly for the home captain.

After Onions' strikes Chris Rushworth completed a five-wicket haul by nipping one back to have Andrew Hodd lbw, leaving Josh Shaw to keep Tim Bresnan company until lunch.