Dominic Ostler rescued Warwickshire with his second Championship hundred of the season against Durham at Chester-le-Street today.

When a five-minute shower interrupted play at 5pm the visitors had crawled to 185 for six in the 81st over but at the close they were 270 for six with Ostler on 110.

Against a depleted attack on an easy-paced pitch, Ostler spent 113 balls over his 50 but needed only a further 68 deliveries to complete his hundred, which included 18 fours.

Keith Piper contributed 30 to an unbroken stand of 91 as Durham's bowlers finally began to suffer after Jon Lewis lost the toss for the sixth successive Championship match.

There was a scare for Durham when Simon Brown limped off in the afternoon. But he returned to become the only bowler to take a second wicket when Neil Smith edged a fourth catch to wicket-keeper Andrew Pratt.

Nick Knight scored 75 before he was fourth out with the total on 117, reaching for a wide ball from Danny Law only to be well caught by Nicky Phillips at third man.

Knight had ten fours, mainly behind square, in his 149-ball knock. Michael Powell made 12 before edging a drive in the 19th over, and Mark Wagh spent 16 overs making six before he gloved a leg-side catch to Pratt just before lunch.

One of the few balls from Phillips which turned defeated David Hemp's forward push to hit off stump, while Dougie Brown edged an out-swinger from Paul Collingwood to Pratt.

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