ON A day of billowing shirts, scudding clouds and no bails, Durham's title hopes were virtually blown away not so much be their own failings as by those of Hampshire.

Needing to win at home to leaders Warwickshire to have any hope of division one survival, Hampshire put down several catches as their visitors progressed towards a total which will allow them to stay ahead of Durham even if they draw.

As Varun Chopra and Shivnarine Chanderpaul both made centuries at the Rose Bowl, it seemed to drain the motivation from Durham. A day which began with high hopes of a dramatic climax to the season saw them sink into a steady decline.

From 146 for two they subsided to 264 all out, while Warwickshire closed the first day on 296 for three. The other title contenders, Lancashire, endured a tough day at Taunton, where James Hildreth's unbeaten 161 took Somerset to 314 for five.

Worcestershire, who confirmed Yorkshire's relegation when they took the third Durham wicket, had ten overs to face and reached 21 for one.

Durham began their final match by winning the toss for the 14th time in 16 championship games and the decision to bat cannot have been a difficult one.

It was just as well that the Don Robson Pavilion provided a slight wind break and that the remnants of Hurricane Katia were blowing across the pitch. But it was still not a day for bowling, unless you have a willing workhorse like Alan Richardson in your side.

At 36, the 6ft 2in former Warwickshire and Middlesex seamer is having the season of his life and his appetite for work has seen him become the leading wicket-taker in division one with 70 at a shade over 25 apiece.

Richardson has bowled 634 overs this season, almost 200 more than any Durham bowler, and he kept going manfully yesterday, even though at times he resembled a man wading through treacle.

Although two dropped catches meant he took only three wickets, they included the vital one of Paul Collingwood, and the fact that he conceded only 46 runs from 24.4 overs kept the pressure on Durham.

They went into the match seeking maximum points, but they also wanted a result pitch so they took the unusual step of shaving the ends to help their spinners.

Worcestershire have no twirlers of note after signing West Indian paceman Kemar Roach for the final part of the season as a replacement for Saeed Ajmaal.

Although bowling in shorter spells, Roach formed an impressive partnership with Richardson and made the Durham openers struggle.

Will Smith dug in to survive until 2.20, which was the moment when Yorkshire were relegated as he was bowled by an in-swinging yorker from Roach for 66. It gave Worcestershire the one point they needed to ensure they stay above Yorkshire.

Smith's exit sparked Durham's slide, with only Dale Benkenstein hinting at permanence in making 33. As he ran out of partners there was almost an air of resignation about the way he edged to second slip.

Michael Di Venuto was lucky to survive two successive balls in the day's second over as Richardson had him dropped at gully on one by Gareth Andrew then a confident lbw appeal was turned down.

Di Venuto went on to make 33 before Andrew had him lbw, then Mark Stoneman fell for 15 in the final over before lunch. He had already survived one appeal in the over when shouldering arms to a ball from Richardson which would have gone over the top. But he did it again and was adjudged lbw.

Smith scored only three runs in the first 75 minutes then edged an attempted pull off Richard Jones over first slip for four.

Richardson often beat the bat and had bowled 13 overs for 16 runs when Smith twice edged him for four on his way to a 131-ball half-century. His departure for 66 left him on 941 championship runs for the season.

Richardson finally had his reward when he had Collingwood caught behind for 22, but when both he and Roach were rested the visitors' lack of back-up was exposed.

They might also have been worried about their over-rate reading minus two, with the attendant threat of a points deduction, as they turned to the spin of Moeen Ali and the gentle medium pace of Daryl Mitchell.

Ian Blackwell had made 12 when he pulled Mitchell for six then drove him through mid-off for four. But a gentle wobbler then had him lbw when half forward and Mitchell was withdrawn with one for 11 from one over.

Phil Mustard got off the mark by pulling Jones over long leg for six but Roach returned after tea to have him lbw for 21.

Scott Borthwick edged Ali's off spin to slip and Mitch Claydon pulled a Roach long hop straight to the only fielder in a huge leg-side arc.

Graham Onions was last out, edging Richardson behind, but then bowled an excellent stint himself and had Mitchell caught by Mustard four overs from the close.

Durham should still be confident of victory, but by failing to pick up three of the five batting points they have left Warwickshire needing only four more to deny them the title.

SCORECARD

Durham v Worcestershire
At Emirates Durham ICG.

Durham First Innings
M J Di Venuto lbw b Andrew 33
W R Smith b Roach 66
M D Stoneman lbw b Richardson 15
P D Collingwood c Scott b Richardson 22
D M Benkenstein c Mitchell b Andrew 33
I D Blackwell lbw b Mitchell 22
P Mustard lbw b Roach 21
S G Borthwick c Mitchell b M M Ali 9
C D Thorp not out 22
M E Claydon c Pardoe b Roach 5
G Onions c Scott b Richardson 0
Extras (b2 lb8 w2 nb4 pens 0) 16
Total (83.4 overs) 264
Fall: 1-41 2-83 3-146 4-152 5-183 6-218
7-237 8-239 9-263
Bonus Pts: Durham 2 Worcestershire 3
Bowling: Roach 21-6-57-3. Richardson 24.4-
8-46-3. Andrew 19-4-63-2. R A Jones 8-1-
34-0. M M Ali 10-0-43-1. Mitchell 1-0-11-1.

Worcestershire First Innings Close
D K Mitchell c Mustard b Onions 7
J G Cameron not out 8
V S Solanki not out 6
Extras (pens 0) 0
Total 1 wkt (10 overs) 21
Fall: 1-14
To Bat: M M Ali, A N Kervezee, M G Pardoe,
G M Andrew, B J M Scott, R A Jones,
K A J Roach, A Richardson
Bonus Pts: Durham 2 Worcestershire 3
Bowling: Onions 5-2-9-1. Thorp 5-1-12-0.