DURHAM took time to build on a promising start this morning and an unbeaten 58 by Joe Root has given Yorkshire every chance of chasing down their victory target.
They are 114 for three, needing a further 222, and the post-lunch spell, presumably featuring Graham Onions, will be crucial for Durham.
They got just the start they wanted when Chris Rushworth struck twice in the day’s fifth over, having left-handed duo Adam Lyth and Phil Jaques caught behind with only six runs added.
But from 23 for two Root and Yorkshire skipper Andrew Gale added 80 before Durham gambled on turning to the medium pace of Keaton Jennings ten minutes before lunch.
Gale tried to cut his fifth ball and edged a fairly simple catch to Paul Collingwood at slip.
The edges stopped coming after Rushworth’s double strike – Jaques bagged a pair – but Root was rarely beaten and showed a sound defence in coping with a probing spell from Ben Stokes.
In his attacking style, Stokes looked like taking wickets but conceded 32 runs in six overs, while Callum Thorp was not particularly threatening but conceded only 14 in eight.
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