Two of England's brightest young batsmen took centre stage at Chester-le-Street as Owais Shah set up the chance for Middlesex to set Durham a target today.

After 18-year-old Nicky Peng became Durham's youngest century-maker, Shah followed his 190 in the first innings with a scintillating 52-ball half-century. He was still there on 62 as Middlesex reached 83 for one in 20 overs to lead by 195 runs.

Since making 98 on his debut against Surrey 13 months ago, Peng's highest score in 15 innings was 23 but he superbly shouldered the task of holding a disappointing Durham innings together.

At 165 for six they were still 72 short of avoiding the follow-on, but Ian Hunter passed 30 for the third successive innings in a stand of 74.

Peng raced from 86 to his hundred, pulling three successive balls from Tim Bloomfield for two, four, four then driving Phil Tufnell wide of mid on for his 13th four to reach the landmark off 186 balls. He then holed out at deep mid-wicket for 101.

Tufnell did not concede a boundary until his 27th over, when Peng drove him through the covers for four and the left-armer finished with three for 44 from 32.5 overs.

After Peng's exit Stephen Harmison swiftly followed and Durham were all out for 274, which was more than looked likely when Angus Fraser removed both Martin Love and Paul Collingwood in his eighth over of the day.

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