Warwickshire narrowly avoided the follow-on before conceding a first innings lead of 124 to Durham on a day which started and finished with career-best performances for the northerners.

Paul Collingwood carried his side to a total of 329 with a towering 153 in 385 minutes and Ian Hunter wrapped up the home side's reply for 205 by taking the last three wickets for figures of 4 for 55. Bad light then ended play with Durham 0 for 0 after 11 balls.

Thirteen wickets fell on an all-action second day and Durham retained the initiative after Collingwood had squeezed a further 79 runs from the last three wickets. The all-rounder hit 20 fours and a six before popping up a simple return catch to former team-mate Melvyn Betts.

Durham's bowling was far less impressive, but Warwickshire conspired to get themselves into trouble at 49 for five. It was wasteful that two batsmen ran themselves out, though David Hemp was unlucky to find the bowler, Steve Harmison, in his path as he attempted a single to mid-off.

The follow-on figure of 180 was a long way off when Neil Smith (47) and Dougie Brown (45) launched a recovery with a sixth-wicket stand of 78 against more wayward bowling by Durham's seamers.

The appearance of the off spinner, Nicky Phillips, accounted for Smith with a catch at the wicket, but Keith Piper maintained the momentum with 37 until deflecting a lifter from James Brinkley into the gully. Warwickshire then folded up as soon Brown was lbw to one that kept low from Hunter.

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