Jack Haynes scored a superb century and career-best 134 not out to inspire a powerful Worcestershire reply with the bat on day three of the LV=Insurance County Championship match with Durham at the Seat Unique Riverside.
The England Lions batter produced a mature and responsible knock to ensure Worcestershire initially avoided the possibility of being asked to follow on and then secured three batting bonus points.
Haynes had scored his maiden first class century against the same opponents at New Road last season, and this was another innings to remember.
He also went past his previous best score of 133 in the following game against Derbyshire at the Incora County Ground.
Haynes achieved this milestone with a single on the off side against Matthew Kuhnemann, and then Club Captain Brett D’Oliveira immediately declared on 366-5 – 59 in arrears on first innings.
It was a bold decision, and his bowlers responded by picking up two early wickets as Durham closed on 96-2, a lead of 155.
Worcestershire resumed on 96-2 with a possible 104 overs available during the day in an attempt to make up some of the lost time on day two.
Jake Libby and Haynes batted solidly with the initial goal to reach 276 to avoid the possibility of being asked to follow on.
They ensured there was no early breakthrough, and Haynes looked in good form and produced several fine drives.
The third wicket pair had negotiated the opening three-quarters of an hour before Libby, on 26, pushed at a delivery from Paul Coughlin and was caught at the third attempt by David Bedingham at second slip.
Worcestershire were then 118-3 in the 37th over, and D’Oliveira immediately showed positive intent in racing to his first 15 runs at a run-a-ball.
Haynes cover drove Coughlin for four, and D’Oliveira pulled Matthew Potts to the ropes as the 50 partnership came up in just 14 overs.
The stand had been extended to 74 from 20.5 overs by lunch, with Haynes unbeaten on 45 and D’Oliveira 38 in a total of 192-3.
D’Oliveira, who had begun the season with a fine 87 against Derbyshire, added eight more runs when play resumed before his dismissal.
He played forward to Kuhnemann but found the leading edge, and the spinner held onto a return catch at 205-4.
It ended a stand of 87 in 23 overs.
Haynes completed his second half-century of the campaign, and he and new batter, Gareth Roderick, started to develop another solid partnership.
Roderick produced one of his trademark shots in flicking Jonathan Bushnell off his legs for a boundary.
Haynes was generally untroubled and in command of the situation, although he was relieved on 72 when he nearly played on to Bushnell.
The first batting bonus point was secured in the 80th over, with the 250 being brought up.
Worcestershire went past the 276 target seven overs later, and Haynes went into tea needing only two runs to reach three figures.
A push for a single on the off side from the bowling of Potts enabled the 22-year-old to complete a 203-ball hundred.
He saluted his teammates and was hugged by Roderick while the Worcestershire supporters who had made the trip to Durham gave him a standing ovation.
Roderick cut Coughlin for four to bring up the 300, but on 44, he went to pull a short ball from Raine and was caught at mid-wicket to end a stand of 112 with Haynes.
Matthew Waite came in to accompany Haynes and took a single off Bushnell to ensure a third batting point was achieved with three overs to spare.
At the declaration, Waite was unbeaten on 22 to add to his century against Derbyshire a week ago.
When Durham batted again, Joe Leach bowled Michael Jones (9) while Ben Gibbon trapped Alex Lees (22) lbw.
