Durham have taken ascendency on day two of their clash with Middlesex on an icy day at Emirates Durham ICG courtesy of a 5 wicket haul by Graham Onions.
Middlesex resumed at 11-2 and it wasn’t long into the second day when Durham continued their momentum from the final session last night.
Graham Onions looked threatening right from his first delivery of the day and he only had to wait another couple of balls to add a second wicket to his tally when he dismissed Denly in the 14th over with Borthwick taking the catch in the slips.
Onions continued to prove tough work for the visitor’s batsmen and he struck again six overs later trapping Malan lbw to leave Middlesex 31-4.
Blustery showers passed over the ground and players left the field a couple of times prior to lunch but after the break Durham continued to bowl well. Ben Stokes was brought into the attack and registered his first wicket in just his second over with a superb delivery which trapped Smith in front of the stumps with the umpire taking no time to raise his finger.
Players then left the field with hailstones falling on the pitch only to come back on and then go back off again with another squall coming across the ground.
When play got underway again Middlesex began to find the gaps and put some runs on the board as Simpson and Dexter compiled a 68 run partnership before Onions once again dealt the blow with Thorp taking the catch at fine leg to dismiss Simpson for 42 leaving the score 103-6.
After tea the Graham Onions show rolled on when he claimed his 5th wicket of the innings with skipper Paul Collingwood juggling successfully in the slips to take the catch.
Middlesex’s Neil Dexter carried on with some nice shots until Ben Stokes got his first wicket of the day with the ball finding the gloves of Phil Mustard to dismiss him for 52.
The tail continued to wag for the visitors until Breese took a nice catch to give Scott Borthwick his first wicket in his 3rd over to dismiss Harris for 37 and break a 45 run partnership to have Middlesex 196-9.
Mark Wood then claimed his first Championship wicket at Chester-le-Street to finish Middlesex off, all out for 196 giving Durham a 63 run lead and the challenge of facing 11 overs in the final hour of play.
Mark Stoneman and Keaton Jennings then were left to see out the day at the crease and the pair added another 37 runs to the Durham lead which is now 100 and will look to be further extended tomorrow.