After 19 wickets fell on the opening day, the visitors fought hard second time around but a late flurry of wickets saw Durham well on their way to a fourth consecutive LV=CC win.
Having seen Worcestershire remove the 114-run first-innings deficit without losing a wicket, Durham took all ten wickets for 116 runs as Callum Thorp took five wickets, and Scott Borthwick took three.
Resuming in the morning on 215-9, Durham progressed quickly in the opening stages, Scott Borthwick punching two down the ground to earn an invaluable 100-run lead in the second over of the morning.
Chris Rushworth launched Gareth Andrew for six, but the Durham innings came to a climax just as it appeared to be gathering further momentum when Borthwick fell leg before to Chris Russell (3-54) with the score on 234, 16-runs shy of a second batting bonus point.
Leading by 114, Durham held high hopes of making inroads into the same Worcester batting line-up that was dismantled for just 120 a day earlier, but Phil Hughes and captain Daryl Mitchell set about building a solid platform.
Hughes passed his half-century but survived on 67 when Ben Stokes failed to hold on diving at cover, as the opening stand comfortably passed the first-innings team total.
Australian Hughes looked particularly impressive in the afternoon session and passed his century, before he chased a wide delivery from Stokes edging to Phil Mustard for 104 which left the visitors 148-1.
Just three overs later Stokes struck once more, as Mitchell guided a full delivery to Callum Thorp in the gully to leave Worcestershire 159-2, leading by 45.
With the visitors seemingly cruising in the evening session, Borthwick struck as Matt Pardoe (21) tamely chipped to Mark Stoneman at mid-wicket.
Borthwick struck once more in the 66th over thanks to a superb low catch by Will Smith at short-leg which left Worcester 208-4.
Callum Thorp then took control, taking the wickets of Vikram Solanki (11), and then Joe Leach, with consecutive deliveries as Worcestershire stumbled to 212-6.
Borthwick dismissed Andrew, while Thorp used the new ball to counter for Ben Scott (17) and Alan Richardson (5), as Worcestershire fell from 148-0, to 264 all out.
Durham lost Will Smith to the final delivery to finish 3-1 on an enthralling day, but with 148 required, they will be confident of securing a vital win.
At the close of play Borthwick said: “I think the way we came out fighting after lunch and after tea was brilliant. It turned out to be an excellent day and hopefully we can finish it off tomorrow.
“We bowled well and came out on top. I thought Callum Thorp did a great job, he bowled nice and straight, got some movement and picked up the wickets as well. The last few weeks has seen all the bowlers contributing and putting in match winning performances.
“In fact, since our win against Middlesex we’ve had match winning performances with the bat and ball so everything is clicking into place and you get confidence from that.”
Thanks to Chris Woods