Tom Fell was run out 17 short of a deserved third hundred of the season as Worcestershire produced a determined batting display on the opening day of the LV = County Championship match with Durham at the ICG Emirates.
Fell,Worcestershire's leading run-scorer in the competition, and Tom Kohler-Cadmore built on the solid foundations laid by openers Brett D'Oliveira and skipper Daryl Mitchell.
Worcestershire had reached 223-4 from 83 overs when bad light halted play at 5.30pm.
Fell was dismissed for 83 from 173 balls with nine fours after adding 85 with Kohler-Cadmore who finished unbeaten on 46.
Worcestershire had to make a late change to their intended line-up after middle order batsman Alex Gidman broke a finger during fielding practice the day before the game and he was replaced by Kohler-Cadmore.
West Indies paceman Shannon Gabriel came in for his Worcestershire debut as overseas player in place of Saeed Ajmal while all-rounder Ed Barnard was also recalled.
Durham's opening attack of Chris Rushworth and Graham Onions bowled probing opening spells after Worcestershire were put into bat.
Mitchell was dropped on two at second slip by Scott Borthwick off Onions.
The opening boundary came in the 12th over from Brett D'Oliveira against Onions down to third man.
The scoring rate increased against change bowlers Jamie Harrison and Barry McCarthy.
D'Oliveira collected successive boundaries from off drives against Harrison and Mitchell chopped McCarthy for his first four from the 51st delivery he faced.
The 50 came up for Worcestershire but without addition to the score D'Oliveira on 36 was trapped lbw by McCarthy.
New batsman Fell cove-drove Harrison for his first four and Worcestershire reached 67-1 off 33 overs by lunch.
Mitchell, after making a determined 17 from 95 balls, was dismissed lbw to the third ball after the interval from spinner Ryan Pringle.
Joe Clarke passed 500 LV = CC runs for the campaign and an edge for four off Harrison brought up the 100 in the 47th over.
The former England Under-19 keeper had made 19 when he fell to a fine catch at third slip by Gordon Muchall from a Onions delivery.
The players went off at 115-3 in the 50th over for rain and seven overs were lost.
When the players returned Fell and Kohler-Cadmore featured in a productive partnership.
Fell went to his fourth half century of the season – in addition to two hundreds – with an extra cover drive for four off Harrison.
It came from 119 balls and contained seven fours.
Kohler-Cadmore looked determined to make the most of his first Championship call-up since July.
The pair added 85 in 27.2 overs before a run-out ended Fell's knock.
Fell turned Paul Collingwood to deep square leg and the batsmen completed two before Onions stopped the ball.
He then threw the ball back to wicket-keeper Michael Richardson with both batsmen having stopped running in the middle of the pitch.
Kohler-Cadmore managed to make his ground but Richardson threw the ball to Collingwood who beat Fell's attempt to get into the crease.
Kohler-Cadmore and Ross Whiteley (16 not out) added 29 in eight overs before the light forced the players off.
