Blazing Bedingham ton leaves Worcestershire facing uphill struggle

Centurions David Bedingham and Scott Borthwick fired Durham into a remarkable position to claim their first win of the season in a battle of two promoted sides in the Vitality County Championship at Chester Road.

Their bowlers went to work in the morning session, picking up the last six Worcestershire wickets to establish a first innings lead of 60, still providing help to the seamers but with enough pace to fire up the batting.

After that Bedingham and Durham captain Borthwick in particular went to town during a third-team partnership of 195 in just 34 overs.

Bedingham continued the form he showed after his winter breakthrough for South Africa with 56 on debut against India and 39, 110, 32 and 87 against New Zealand. His second fifty took just 24 balls as he hit triple figures off 79 deliveries with five sixes and 11 fours.

By the end, Durham extended their total to 379.

For the Durham attack, it was a welcome return to conditions that offered some relief after the graveyard at Edgbaston, where Warwickshire were 698 for 3 against the Kookaburra ball and a short boundary.

But quick goals from Bedingham and Borthwick in the final session mean Worcestershire face a daunting task on Sunday to avoid their first defeat of the season.

Holder did most of the early scoring, covering Raine and Potts for boundaries and then pulling the former over mid-wicket for a huge six. But Raine hit back and scored back-to-back strikes to put the visitors ahead.

Holder was run out after pushing forward, but Matthew White didn't trouble the wicketkeepers as he smothered the delivery and was caught behind.

Libby completed his half-century off 101 balls with seven fours, and young batsman Nathan Smith survived a first slip from Paul Coughlin in the 11th over.

Libby's determined knock ended on 61 after a rare error of judgment when he folded his arms and Coughlin handed him the ball. Josh Baker then tried to clear a Bas de Leeds bounce but the ball bounced off his helmet onto his stumps.

Joe Leech flew out to a superb one-armer caught by Bedingham on his right from Potts, which ended the innings when Adam Finch aimed for leg.

Smith remained unbeaten in the 33rd minute and then made the first breakthrough with the ball as Durham went into action for the second time after lunch. Alex Lees fought back and managed to get Smith to Holder at just second slip.

Leach switched to the Railway End after the first four and got rid of Colin Ackerman, who made way for Gareth Roderick. But Durham skipper Borthwick and Bedingham settled down and had a couple of alarms to build up a sizeable lead.

Bedingham was more fluid, scoring around the run ball for long periods, but it was Borthwick who was the first to hit an 89-ball half-century with five boundaries.

Two consecutive sixes by Bedingham van Leach helped him to a 55-ball fifty and he accelerated to three figures when spinner Baker conceded a rugby maximum.

A run out was needed to end the partnership when Borthwick failed to beat Smith's throw to the non-striker's end while attempting the second run.

Paul Coughlin pulled Finch to Roderick when he tried a square cut and Bedingham's excellent knock finally ended on 138 when he cut Smith down the side and Adam Hose took an excellent catch on the cover boundary.