Lewis and Hodge keep Durham alive

With Jason Gallian's men out for 362, Durham slumped to 116 all out after fine bowling from Richard Logan (three for 36) and Greg Smith (four for 24) allowed the visitors to enforce the follow-on. But Jon Lewis (70) gave Durham hope as they finished the day on 184 for two.

Despite important contributions from Gary Pratt (42) and Brad Hodge (42 not out), the home side were still 62 runs adrift and had plenty to do to rescue the game.

The Durham first innings had started cagily - but Lewis and Gary Pratt battled well on what was an unpredictable wicket. Pratt was dismissed for 17 when he was trapped lbw by a swinging Andrew Harris delivery. Three overs later, Lewis was back in the pavilion after a peach from Smith foxed the Durham captain who was given lbw for 15.

Durham were crying out for a big knock from Paul Collingwood but he was edged to wicketkeeper Chris Read by Logan. With Durham floundering on 53 for three, worse was to follow as Logan took his second wicket in successive balls. New batsman Marc Symington could only watch and admire as a superb delivery clean bowled him for a duck.

Hodge was battling on gamely in the wake of relentless pressure - but at the other end the wickets continued to tumble. Andrew Pratt became Logan's third victim, edging another quick delivery to Nicky Boje at second slip. Then Hodge needlessly sacrificed his wicket when a short ball from Paul Franks tempted the Australian into a pull shot which was mistimed to mid-on where Usman Afzaal took the catch.

Danny Law (14) offered brief resistance before driving one to Franks off Smith, who struck again to get rid of Nicky Phillips two deliveries later. Any hope of Durham avoiding the follow-on was soon shattered when Nick Killeen fell to Harris for four, and Smith picked up his fourth wicket when Mark Davies edged one to Read for three. But with Durham beginning their second innings a daunting 246 runs behind, they began to dig in.

Lewis and Pratt forged an invaluable 72-run partnership before Logan bowled the latter for 42 via an inside edge. Hodge was next to the crease and formed a gritty partnership with Lewis, battling his way to 42. Hodge provided the perfect foil for Lewis, who marched on to 70 before Harris clean-bowled him.

With bad light intervening four deliveries later, Lewis' knock kept Durham's faint hopes of a revival intact.

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