DURHAM were slithering towards defeat this morning, not helped by Mark Stoneman being run out for 111, until Paul Coughlin put bat to ball.

He was on 47 at lunch and had put on 48 with John Hastings to leave Durham 35 ahead on 300 for seven.

After an excellent innings by Stoneman the figure known as Nelson proved to be his Waterloo as he was sunk by his own misjudgement.

Another sad moment saw Phil Mustard depart for eight, edging to third slip to become Keith Barker's eighth victim of the match.

Stoneman's exit looked like the end, but Coughlin, who was blameless in his downfall, refused to let it unsettle him as he drove fearlessly and wiped off the arrears.

Since being briefly promoted to No 5 at the start of last season, when he began with 91 at Northampton, Mustard has made two half-centuries and otherwise has not passed 25.

If Durham are ever going to give Stuart Poynter a chance in championship cricket now is surely the time with a match at Worcester starting on Sunday.

Paul Collingwood added only three to his overnight 16 before he was adjudged lbw to a ball from Rikki Clarke which nipped back. The Durham captain's reaction smacked more of disagreement than disappointment.

After his first-ball duck in the first innings Mustard was off the mark first ball and looked comfortable enough. There was little swing in the cold wind, but Barker summoned just enough movement to find the edge for a low catch at third slip.

Stoneman, on 83 overnight, was initally fluent. He square drove Barker for his 15th four and turned the next ball behind square for two to complete his century off 179 balls.

He then dug in and allowed Coughlin to dominate the scoring with some confident strokes until the youngster pushed towards mid-on and wasn't even contemplating a run when he saw his partner advancing towards him. The fielder at short mid-wicket rushed in to beat Stoneman's attempt to scramble back.