CHRIS Rushworth's seventh five-wicket haul of the season earned him a Durham record, but they were still left to chase 308 to beat Middlesex at Chester-le-Street.

The target looked even more daunting when Graham Clark bagged a pair, edging the second ball he faced from Toby Roland-Jones to John Simpson.

Three overs later Mark Stoneman fell lbw to Tim Murtagh for 12 as Durham scrambled to tea on 21 for two.

In the first three innings of the match the third wicket fell on 18, seven and 13, but under clear skies conditions were much better for batting today.

In taking five for 49 as the visitors were dismissed for 280, Rushworth reached 82 first-class wickets for Durham this season, two more than Ottis Gibson's 2007 record.

He claimed the record by bowling Roland-Jones in the third over with the new ball to end a ninth-wicket stand of 60 with James Harris. They added 51 after Roland-Jones survived a sitter to mid-off on four.

The fielder was reserve wicketkeeper Stuart Poynter, briefly on the field for Stoneman, and the bowler was Graham Onions, who also suffered when Dawid Malan was dropped first ball before going on to make 63.

In scoring 23 Roland-Jones played very sensibly against some accurate leg-spin from Scott Borthwick, who took two for 19 in 13 overs.

Harris made 41 before he was brilliantly caught by Paul Collingwood, diving to his left at first slip to give Rushworth his fifth wicket.