Durham need to take 10 wickets on the final day of their LV= County Championship clash with Yorkshire to secure their second win of the season after setting the visitors a 336 run victory target.
The home side had an excellent day with the bat as Mark Stoneman led the way with his first century of the season as he scored 109.
He was backed up by an effort of 61 not out by Dale Benkenstein while Keaton Jennings (48) and Paul Collingwood (36*) also contributed to Durham’s total of 275-4.
After a rain delay, Collingwood declared leaving the visitors 336 for victory and they made a decent start reaching 17-0 before the close of play.
Beginning the day 60 runs ahead, Stoneman and Jennings made a steady start, but the 25-year-old was given a life on 11 when he was dropped by Jonny Bairstow off the bowling of Tim Bresnan. He was to make the England man pay for his mistake.
Stoneman took the attack to the Yorkshire seamers, lifting Durham to their highest opening partnership of the season with Jennings, as they reached 50 without loss.
The left-hander took his scoring up a notch as he powered his way to his first-half century of the season helping Durham past the 100 mark.
Jennings was approaching his own 50 before he was dismissed when he edged the ball to Bairstow off Bresnan when on 48 leaving the home side 123-1.
Will Smith soon followed Jennings back to the pavilion as he made only 4, before he edged a Bresnan delivery to Root at third slip, who took a good catch.
This brought Dale Benkenstein to the crease and he and Stoneman calmed the innings as they slowly edged Durham’s lead over the 200 mark.
Stoneman continued to be aggressive and blasted his way into the 90’s and his first century of the season soon followed with a quick single to cover, becoming the second Durham batsman to pass 100 this season.
His brilliant knock was ended on 109 when he edged the ball to Gary Balance off the bowling of former team mate Liam Plunkett. The former Durham man struck again when he had Ben Stokes caught behind by Bairstow for seven.
However, Benkenstein and Collingwood continued the host’s fine batting performance as they moved their lead past the 300 mark, with Benkenstein reaching his half-century off 81 balls.
Bad light and rain stopped the Durham innings on 275-4 with a lead of 335, which Collingwood deemed enough to announce his declaration.
After the rain break, Yorkshire openers Adam Lyth and Joe Root saw off a hostile seven overs from Graham Onions and Chris Rushworth, to close the day on 17-0, needing a further 319 runs to win.
Durham Will be looking for early wickets to gain their second win over the season over our closest rivals. Keep an eye on Live Match Chat to see how the lads get on.