BOWLERS prospered at heavily overcast Chester-le-Street as Durham crashed to seven for three in reply to Middlesex's 196. The score moved on to 20 for three at lunch.

Graham Onions finished with seven for 68 then Toby Roland-Jones clean bowled both Durham openers before Tim Murtagh removed Paul Collingwood for one.

The home skipper was squared up by a ball which lobbed off a thick edge for Nick Compton to dive to his right at gully to hold an excellent catch.

Resuming on 141 for five, Middlesex lost Neil Dexter to the second ball of the day. It stood up off a good length to take the shoulder of the bat on the way to Ryan Pringle at fourth slip.

That completed Onions' second five-wicket haul of the season and four overs later a full-length swinger had Ollie Rayner lbw.

Three wickets had gone down for nine runs when Jamie Harris edged Chris Rushworth to first slip, giving Collingwood the third of his four catches.

Coming in at 150 for eight, Roland-Jones made 27 in a stand of 31 with John Simpson, taking 15 off an over from Onions, including two fours and a pulled six to the short leg-side boundary.

Onions had his revenge in his next over when an edged drive was well held by Gordon Muchall above his head at third slip.

Last man Murtagh made 13 before edging John Hastings to Collingwood, leaving Simpson unbeaten on 11, made of 48 balls.

Roland-Jones struck timber in both his first two overs, Mark Stoneman playing across a full-length ball to lose his leg stump before Graham Clark shoulders arms to one which didn't have to deviate much to hit off stump.