Worcestershire Seconds were made to work hard for wickets after Durham Seconds opted to bat on day one of the Second Eleven Championship match at Stourbridge.
The visitors reached 398-5 from 82.4 overs before bad light and rain led to an early finish.
Worcestershire paceman Chris Russell was rewarded for his perseverance with the wickets of openers Adam Hickey and Gordon Muchall and he finished with 2-67 from 18 overs.
But it was a hard slog for the Seconds attack after Hickey (80) and Muchall (108) put on 189 in 43 overs.
Muchall hit two sixes and 17 fours in his 119 ball knock.
Stuart Poynter added 65 for the third wicket with Jack Burnham (36) and then 109 for the fourth with James Weighell.
Poynter was eventually out for 76 but Weighell remained unbeaten on 62 from just 49 balls with four sixes and four fours when play was halted.
DURHAM SECONDS – FIRST INNINGS
Hickey b Russell 80
Muchall b Russell 108
Poynter b Twohig 76
Burnham c Dodd b Badger 36
Weighell not out 62
Braithwaite c Dodd b Twohig 16
Extras 20
Total (for five wickets) 398 in 82.4 overs
FOW: 189, 202, 267, 376, 398
BOWLING
Morris 18-1-69-0
Russell 18-3-67-2
Varley 7-1-45-0
Wilkinson 10-2-42-0
Twohig 18.4-1-104-2
Badger 9-0-58-1
