DURHAM failed to press home the advantage of winning the toss on a steamy morning at Worcester after taking a wicket with the second ball following a delayed start.

There were only five minutes left to lunch when they struck again, left-hander Richard Oliver becoming over-ambitious when he was aiming for mid-wicket and had his off stump rattled by Graham Onions.

Oliver made 36 and Tom Fell was unbeaten on 23 when Worcestershire reached lunch on 64 for two after 19 overs.

When play began at 11.45, home skipper Daryl Mitchell pushed half forward and was bowled by Chris Rushworth.

Conditions looked tailor-made for Rushworth, but the ball didn't swing as much as might have been expected. Although he beat the bat a few times he was not at his best and conceded 33 runs in his six overs. Oliver was fortunate on 18, edging a drive over gully for four.

Onions was less expensive, but his radar was a little off beam and he made way for John Hastings after four overs before switching to the other end, where Fell cut him for four.

Hastings began with three maidens and after beating Oliver with two successive balls he posted a second gully to go with his three slips.

When Oliver finally scrambled a single off Hastings, Paul Coughlin rushed in from cover and conceded four overthrows.

Durham declined to hand wicketkeeper Stuart Poynter his championship debut, despite scoring 119 and 70 in the second team's first defeat of the season at home to Warwickshire last week.

Instead they handed the gloves to Michael Richardson and replaced Phil Mustard with Gordon Muchall, who made 175 on Durham's last visit to Worcester three years ago.

Saeed Ajmal, the Pakistan off-spinner who bowled Worcestershire to promotion with 63 wickets in nine games last season, is to return on June 2. Meanwhile they have Sri Lankan Sachithra Senanayake, who has played in one Test, deputising.