Onions was superb in the first session of the morning taking 5-13 off just over 3 overs, with innings figures of 7-62, the best for any Durham player against Middlesex for over two decades.
Onions took the remaining 5 wickets needed to bowl Middlesex out as the home side finished on 168, 25 runs ahead of Durham’s total.
With the Middlesex lead only small, the Durham batsmen looked to put together a solid total however they started just as they did in the first innings, losing both openers in Stoneman (0) and Jennings (2) in the first four overs leaving Durham 10-2.
Number three Scott Borthwick looked in good touch early and provided some resistance making 26 before he was bowled by Murtagh.
Will Smith and Ben Stokes then looked to have steadied for Durham with the pair putting together a solid stand and combining for some nice shot making to get the scoreboard looking a bit healthier.
However after putting on 65 runs, Smith fell just before Durham brought up their 100 as he became Murtagh’s 3rd victim with Finn taking the catch as Smith departed for 30.
Skipper Paul Collingwood then went the next over without a score leaving Durham in a bit of trouble at 98-5.
Stokes carried on at the crease, passing 50 for the 14th time and finding the boundary eight times in the process before he was caught out of his crease, stumped off the bowling of Rayne in the 45th over to depart for 51.
Michael Richardson then came and went two balls later leaving Durham in further trouble at 129-7 with a lead of just over 100.
With Phil Mustard at the crease it was left to him to combine with the lower order and Thorp stayed at the crease making 23 until he was bowled by Finn whilst Onions and Rushworth were bowled in quick succession leaving Mustard (30no) stranded at the crease as Durham finished on 171 with a lead of just 144.
With the game looking like one for the bowlers, Durham started well again with the ball but didn’t strike until the 8th over when Rushworth claimed Middlesex opener Robson with Richardson taking the catch.
Onions then struck 4 overs later when Denly edged one forward to Stokes and Durham had a glimmer of hope at 41-2.
The next ball, Onions had the new batsmen plum lbw with a massive appeal from all eleven Durham players silenced by the umpire signalling a no ball. It was to be a big moment in the match as Middlesex then swung the momentum back in their favour as Voges 36no and Morgan 24no put on a 62 run stand and saw the day out to have Middlesex just two wickets down and 44 runs away from a victory.
Post-play Durham paceman Graham Onions said that it was the lack of parnterships in the Durham innings which has cost the team and said the match is Middlesex’s at the moment but didn’t close the option of Durham pulling off a remarkable victory.
‘Tomorrow is a new day, If we bowl like we did in today’s morning session you never know what might happen’.