Liam Plunkett picked up the first wicket of the day, Pyrah out lbw for 8. Ajmal Shahzad and McGrath’s partnership passed fifty before the former was caught behind off Rushworth for 15 leaving Yorkshire 209-9.
Patterson lasted long enough in the middle for McGrath to reach one hundred, off 109 balls including seven boundaries, just before lunch.
Yorkshire were 255 all out when Patterson was caught by Benkenstein off Plunkett for 7.
The Durham batsmen began their second innings trailing Yorkshire by 42 but quickly rectified that, passing the fifty mark within 13 overs. Durham were 50-1 as Yorkshire claimed the wicket of Michael Di Venuto, a feat they hadn’t managed in the first innings, when he was out lbw to Oliver Hannon-Dalby for 18.
Mark Stoneman and Gordon Muchall batted well to add 84 before both fell in quick succession leaving Durham 134-3, Muchall bowled by Shahzad for 31 and Stoneman caught behind off Patterson on 78, his highest first class total of the season.
Ian Blackwell added 13 before he became Hannon –Dalby’s second victim when he was caught in the slips by Jonathan Bairstow. Benkenstein lost two more partners before the close of play, again falling in quick succession, Stokes caught by Bairstow off Patterson for 8 and Mustard caught in the slips by Rudolph off Hannon-Dalby for 2, leaving Durham 177-6.
At the close of play the hosts were 207-6 with Benkenstein 35* and Plunkett 8*.
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At the close of play we spoke to Durham Head Coach, Geoff Cook, “If you’d asked me where the balance of power was this morning I’d have said that we were in a good position , but by the end of today’s play you would say that Yorkshire would be the happier of the two teams.
“At tea time we’d levelled things off a bit, Stoneman and Muchall had played well to get us there but two good spells from Patterson and Hannon-Dalby put some pressure on and we played some undisciplined shots that we’re not too proud of.
“The quality players are the ones that have stayed at the crease, Di Venuto, McGrath and Benkenstein today. Stoneman’s was a good knock, he’s a lad that plays the new ball as well as anyone in the country, certainly amongst the youngsters, he’s got a real talent, a real natural disposition towards opening the batting and getting those big scores is his next step. He was out to a shot that wasn’t in keeping with the rest of his innings.
“If we can get another 100 runs it’s going to be a very interesting day tomorrow. 250 would be an interesting total to chase, the ball has encouraged bowlers, probably less so than the first morning but nevertheless there is always something there.”