Nick Hammond completed back to back Second Eleven Championship hundreds for Worcestershire who will require 166 on the final day to defeat Durham at Maiden Castle.
The former Worcestershire Academy product, who now studies at Loughborough University, followed up his century against Leicestershire at Stourbridge by reaching three figures off 231 balls with 10 boundaries.
He came to the wicket at 16-4 – a score which soon became 28-5 – in reply to Durham’s 217 all out and was last out at 203.
The Worcestershire bowlers then got to work in dismissing Durham for 151 with Alex Wilkinson ripping out the top order and George Rhodes polishing off the innings to finish with match figures of 42-8-141-10.
Hammond was indebted to last man Josh Dickenson keeping him company so that he could complete his ton.
The leg spinner provided solid assistance in scoring four not out during an invaluable 10th wicket partnership of 49.
It enabled Worcestershire to secure a second batting point to add to their four bowling points yesterday.
Useful stands were also put together of 47 with Jacques Banton (24), 35 with Ed Bragg (11) and 37 in tandem with Charlie Morris (16).
Hammond was eventually run out for 103
Wilkinson was soon amongst the wickets when Durham batted again and reduced them to 8-3 at one stage.
He dismissed Angus Robson (1), Michael Jones (0) and Cameron Steel (4) and his initial new ball spell – and only one of the innings – brought figures of 5-1-16-3.
Ryan Pringle made a quickfire 37 off 32 balls before he fell to Bragg at 61-4.
Morris struck twice in one over in removing Solomon Bell (28) and Luke Doneathy (0).
Rhodes had returned a SEC best return of seven wickets in the first innings and he removed James McCarthy (5) and B. Whitehead (1) in successive overs.
The Durham innings was held together by Gareth Harte (55) until he sucumbed to Matt Davis before Rhodes picked up the last wicket to complete his 10-for in the match.
Rhodes ended with figures of 18.3-3-57-3, Morris 9-3-32-2, Bragg 3-1-10-1 and Davis 5-1-9-1.
