DURHAM continued their slide towards a fourth successive home defeat when Hampshire began their pursuit of 163 to win at Chester-le-Street by reaching 47 for one at tea.

Although he was beaten several times, Michael Carberry played some crisp strokes in reaching 28 at the break.

Rain prevented play before lunch and Durham didn't hang around when they resumed their second innings on 126 for six, 88 ahead, adding 74 in 15.3 overs before they were all out for 200.

The ease with which Chris Rushworth made an unbeaten 33 off 34 balls suggested the visitors should not have too much difficulty in reaching their target.

There was a blow for Hampshire when Fidel Edwards retired with a hamstring injury after bowling eight balls, although his exit did allow Ryan Stevenson to claim his maiden first-class wicket.

He had Graham Onions caught at point by Jimmy Adams, ending a last-wicket stand of 36 in 28 balls.

Gareth Berg took two wickets in two balls in the fourth over, having Ryan Pringle caught behind for 13 and John Hastings lbw. Umpire Jeremy Lloyds took several seconds to give the second decision.

Left-hander James Weighell hit two fours off Ryan McLaren to reach 20 before Edwards came on and yorked him with his first ball to finish with figures of four for 43.

The last pair got after Berg, with Rushworth hooking and driving him for two sixes prior to trying to add to his 85 first-class wickets this season.

He had to wait until the 12th over, when Carberry was on 21 and there had been 11 extras, before Jimmy Adams shouldered arms and was bowled for three.

Rushworth also troubled James Vince but he was still there on five at tea.