The day started out sunny at Worcester and as the heavier cloud passed over the ground and the temperature dropped Stephen Harmison claimed the first wicket of the day, that of Gareth Andrew who tried to flick the ball down the leg side but was dismissed with a one handed catch from Phil Mustard behind the stumps, leaving Worcestershire 146-6 in the ninth over of the day.
Worcestershire were effectively seven down at this stage after Adrian Shankar had been stretchered off the field during the warm up and had retired hurt. Durham has their share of misfortune too though with Dale Benkenstein confined to the hotel with a viral infection.
Ben Scott and Damien Wright put on a fifty partnership which was broken by Ruel Brathwaite when Wright was caught by Thorp at gully for 27.
Ben Stokes bowled Ben Scott for 37 the following over with the Worcestershire total at 197-8.
The hosts did pick up one batting point in their innings, passing 200 after 59 overs. Their ninth and final wicket fell to Scott Borthwick after Richard Jones spooned the ball up high for Mustard to position himself under and easily take.
With Worcester only reaching 217 the follow on was enforced and by lunch, having faced six overs, the hosts were 20-0.
Ian Blackwell made the early breakthrough when James Cameron (20) nicks the ball to Di Venuto in the slips in the 18th over as Worcestershire reached fifty. He went on to claim the wicket of Pardoe when he was caught at short leg by Will Smith on 38 leaving the hosts 99-2 after 28 overs.
Solanki, who had been dropped in the slips on 12, went on to score fifty from 70 balls, which included ten fours and by tea Worcester were 149-2.
Stephen Harmison bowled danger-man Solanki (58) in the third over after the break and he went on to bowl Kervezee for 17 with 22 overs remaining in the day.
Ali stuck in to hit fifty, off 70 balls, bringing it up with his ninth boundary of the innings and simultaneously nudging Worcester past the two hundred mark.
It was Ben Stokes who claimed his wicket, when he was caught behind on 63 with the hosts 216-5 with 14 overs to go.
No further inroads were made before the close with Durham requiring four more wickets on day four, providing Adrian Shankar plays no further part in the game, to claim their third LV= County Championship win of the 2011 season.
At the close of play on day three Worcestershire are 271-5, Andrew 33* and Scott 30*.