SO the game wasn't meandering towards a draw after all. Stalemate seemed certain when nightwatchman Chris Rushworth lasted for 95 minutes this morning, then 13 wickets went down in 30 overs.

There has been no discernible change in conditions, but Rushworth and John Hastings made superb use of the new ball to have Middlesex on the rack at 37 for seven in their second innings.

They were 46 for seven at tea, leading by 215, and probably wish they had enforced the follow-on when Durham were all out for 294, 169 behind.

The absence of Tim Murtagh with a torn hamstring doubtless influenced the decision, but they would have been looking to bat Durham out of the game.

Instead Rushworth took four for 13 in his first four overs, continuing his habit of taking second innings wickets after his five-fors against Somerset and Sussex.

Then Hastings replaced Paul Coughlin and took three for two in his first three overs as well as bowling John Simpson with a no-ball.

Durham gave poor support after lunch to Paul Collingwood, who was left stranded on 38. Phil Mustard's woes continued when a ball from Adam Voges brushed his pads and trickled on to the stumps.

Then when the new ball was taken Usman Arshad drove a catch to extra cover, Hastings fended a Steve Finn bouncer to second slip and Coughlin was lbw trying an ambitious drive.

Rushworth gained the first of three lbw decisions when left-hander Nick Gubbins padded up in the third over.

Two overs later Calum MacLeod evoked memories of his sensational catch here in the Royal London Cup final when he flung himself to his left at gully to hold a sliced drive by Nick Compton.

Voges lasted two balls, hitting the first for four before falling lbw and two overs later Sam Robson went the same way for 17.

He could have gone twice before that, edging Coughlin just out of the slips' reach and surviving a run-out chance when Mark Stoneman's shy form square leg just missed.

As James Franklin never looked comfortable against Hastings in the first innings it was no surprise when the big man came on for the seventh over. Franklin swished loosely at his third ball and edged to Mustard.

Simpson failed to profit from his no-ball reprieve, edging a low catch to third slip, where Michael Richardson clung on. Two balls later Ollie Rayner's stumps were splattered, but Neil Dexter and James Harris survived the last six overs before tea.