It took just six overs for Durham to claim the final Yorkshire wicket, that of Steven Patterson who was caught behind off Stephen Harmison for 1, with the visitors posting 185 in their first innings.
Adil Rashid dropped Michael Di Venuto once in the second over but didn’t make the same mistake twice after holding on to an edge off Azmal Shahzad’s sixth delivery.
Durham were 7-1 as Gordon Muchall, whose form has been impressive in all formats this season, joined Will Smith at the crease, who contributed 13 before he was caught by a smart low third slip catch by Adil Rashid off the bowling of Patterson.
Muchall went on to strike his 12th fifty of 2011 in all competitions but was dismissed soon after when he was caught in the slips off Ryan Sidebottom for 55 with the Durham total at 86.
Durham lost Dale Benkenstein (5) just before the lunch break after he was caught by Jonathan Bairstow off Patterson and at the lunch the home side were 95-4.
Patterson claimed his third scalp, that of Ian Blackwell, who was caught by Adam Lyth in the slips for 28, just after he and Paul Collingwood notched up their fifty partnership.
Phil Mustard was dropped twice in the slips by Richard Pyrah in the infancy of his innings and again by Andrew Gale at mid-off on 32.
On his return to LV= County Championship cricket a calculated and patient innings Collingwood reached fifty in 75 deliveries, which included seven boundaries as the pair scored relatively freely against the Yorkshire attack.
Mustard went on to reach his fifty too, which included 11 fours, off 47 balls but in a rare incident was later given out lbw by umpire Tim Robinson, only for the decision to be reversed as a dead ball was signalled.
Mustard scored 70 before he was caught off Rashid by Lyth, running from first to leg slip, ending the 113 run partnership with Durham 254-6, with a lead of 69.
As Durham secured their sixth bonus point and a lead of over 150, Collingwood notched up his first century for Durham since he was a first XI regular in 2005, off 145 balls, which included ten boundaries.
Collingwood was eventually dismissed for 108 off the first ball of Joe Root’s second over when he was caught by Lyth in the slips with Durham at 319-7.
Scott Borthwick was the fourth Durham batsman to score fifty, off 68 deliveries including eight fours, as 350 was passed.
Callum Thorp added a quickfire 29 before he was caught by Patterson at deep long on, off Rashid with Durham requiring 13 runs to secure maximum bonus points.
Durham declared on 408-8 having established a lead of 223, with Borthwick 67* and Onions 11*.
The Durham attack returned to the field with seven overs remaining to do some damage to the Yorkshire line up and although they didn’t steal a wicket, the game is well positioned for Durham, weather permitting, to claim a win!