BEN STOKES' sensational century at Lord's made it a good day for burying moderate news, which was all Durham were able to supply yesterday.

It was another Ben's day at Worcester as wicketkeeper Cox, the No 7, marshalled his side's rapid progress from 160 for five to 323 all out after being put in. Durham replied with 14 for none.

Cox, who made a century in the win against Somerset, was last out for 67, brilliantly caught off an inside edge by wicketkeeper Michael Richardson diving to his left to give Paul Coughlin his best first-class figures of four for 70.

There were three wickets for Chris Rushworth, making him the championship's joint leading wicket-taker with 28.

After taking a wicket with the second ball, Durham failed to press home the advantage of winning the toss on the sort of morning on which swing could be expected.

Although pitching the ball up did not generate the anticipated movement, that was no excuse for the number of short balls which were put away to the boundary.

John Hastings was the pick of the bowlers until his frustration from an absence of wickets saw him twice send bouncers over Richardson's head for four byes.

After taking over the gloves from Phil Mustard, who was replaced by Gordon Muchall, Richardson had show his acrobatic qualities as bowlers erred in line as well as length.

His performance was good enough to be bad news for Mustard and Stuart Poynter, who probably wonders what he needs to do after his century for the second team last week.

When play began 45 minutes late following rain, home skipper Daryl Mitchell pushed half forward to the second ball and was bowled by Rushworth.

Four of the next five batsmen all got out when shaping to play balls of fullish length through mid-wicket, underlining that bowling short was not the answer.

Although Rushworth beat the bat a few times he was not at his best and conceded 33 runs in his opening six-over spell.

Coming on first change, Hastings began with three maidens and beat left-hander Richard Oliver with two successive balls before the opener scrambled a single which also brought him four overthrows.

Oliver's stand with Tom Fell was worth 64 and there were only five minutes left to lunch when Durham took the second wicket.

After playing some fine shots in his 36 Oliver became over-ambitious and was aiming to leg when he had his off stump rattled by Graham Onions.

Ex-Gloucestershire man Alex Gidman was lbw to Rushworth for 12, but Fell and Alexei Kervezee put on 72 before the Dutchman drove well wide of off stump at Coughlin and edged to Richardson.

The next ball was the first of a new Rushworth spell and brought the downfall of Fell for 78 as he was aiming for mid-wicket and edged a comfortable catch to Scott Borthwick at second slip.

That brought in Cox and, along with the rest of the lower order, he went for his shots, with Onions twice being hit for six over the short leg-side boundary.

Batsmen tended to get carried away, however, with Jack Leach slicing Onions to gully the ball after hitting a six, while Jack Shantry hit three fours off a Coughlin over before skying him to mid-off.

Sri Lankan Sachithra Senanayake pulled Paul Collingwood for six before edging a wild drive to Richardson.

Every batsman bar Mitchell got a start. Durham will be hoping at least one of their's can go on to a big score.