WHENEVER Warwickshire seemed to be gaining control at Chester-le-Street this morning they lost a wicket, reaching 227 for seven at lunch with a further 38 needed.

Resuming on 125 for two, they lost both overnight batsmen for the addition of 33, leaving the match in the balance.

But in pleasant conditions Rikki Clarke looked equal to the task of ensuring that his eight-wicket match haul was not wasted, reaching 28 not out.

After losing Tim Ambrose for 25, when 73 were still needed, Clarke hurried Warwickshire towards their target in partnership with Chris Woakes.

After Varun Chopra fell to a leg-side strangle yesterday evening, both Sam Hain and Laurie Evans were taken down the leg-side by wicketkeeper Michael Richardson.

Hain gloved an attempted hook off Graham Onions to depart for 13 and Evans' excellent innings of 70 was ended by an inside edge off Chris Rushworth.

Ambrose looked comfortable but was tempted into nibbling at a short ball angled across him by left-armer Jamie Harrison and edged to Paul Collingwood at slip.

Collingwood brought himself on to bowl with 61 needed and opened up with a rank long hop, which Clarke pulled for four.

Onions returned and also bowled a poor ball, which Clarke put away to the third man boundary.

With the total on 213 and Woakes on ten Durham seemed convinced they had achieved another leg-side strangle, but umpire Graham Lloyd was unmoved.

Rushworth had Woakes lbw for 14 in his next over, however, with one which kept low, bringing in Jeetan Patel at 225 for seven. He was beaten three times in the last two overs before the break and had yet to get off the mark.