DURHAM were in a hurry this morning, as though they believed they could still mount a late charge for the title.

There was some talk about how Warwickshire, under pressure from Lancashire, might panic at the Rose Bowl, enter into some sort of contrivance with Hampshire and crash to defeat.

In reality, it’s not going to happen. Lancashire lost five wickets this morning and were 356 for six at lunch at Taunton, still 24 behind.

Durham reached 198 for three, 174 ahead of Worcestershire, but both Will Smith and Michael Di Venuto fell short of 1,000 runs.

Smith had made 37, taking his total to 978, when a ball from Gareth Andrew nipped back to pin him lbw.

Di Venuto’s 55 took his tally to 935 before he bottom-edged an attempted pull off Richard Jones into his stumps.

Paul Collingwood got off the mark with a six over mid-wicket off Moeen Ali, but a miscued pull off Kemar Roach saw his lob a catch to square leg to depart for 24.

Mark Stoneman continued his excellent form with a fluent unbeaten 46 and Durham should still be confident of building a 350 lead.