ON a day when 19 wickets fell at a heavily overcast Chester-le-Street, the one which got away proved costly for Durham.

Dawid Malan was dropped first ball and went on to reach 56 as Middlesex recovered from 29 for four to close the second day on 118 for four in their second innings, leading by 145.

As the sun threatened to put in an appearance in the final hour conditions eased and no wickets fell in the last 20 overs as Neil Dexter assisted in the revival.

Durham also lacked support for Chris Rushworth, who took three for six in seven overs to equal Ottis Gibson's 2007 Durham record of 80 first-class wickets in a season, 75 coming in the championship.

He returned for three overs at the end without joy as Dexter moved on to 46.

Malan was put down at third slip by Gordon Muchall, spoiling a day on which he made his first home half-century in the championship for four years. He was last out for 64 with Durham's total on 169.

The drop also marred Graham Onions' day as he had just had Nick Compton lbw to add to his seven for 68 in dismissing Middlesex for 196 in their first innings.