DURHAM need the rain to stay away today if they are to capitalise on Barry McCarthy's five-wicket haul and Scott Borthwick's second hundred of the match.

They will go into the final day against Lancashire at Emirates Riverside leading by 324 on 239 for four in their second innings with Borthwick unbeaten on 103.

Following his 134 in the first innings, he is the second Durham batsman this season to achieve the two-ton feat following Keaton Jennings in the first match at home to Somerset.

It had previously been achieved only by Dean Jones in Durham's inaugural season, 1992, and Paul Collingwood in 2005.

“I felt in good nick and found a nice rhythm,” said Borthwick. “We haven't seen how a fourth day pitch behaves yet, so hopefully it will turn and I can get a few wickets as well.

“The pitches are a lot drier this season, which helps the batsmen and the spinners. We'll probably want to get a few more quick runs before we set them a target.”

McCarthy, a 23-year-old Dubliner, is the second Irishman to take five for Durham following Peter Chase on his debut at home to Nottinghamshire at the end of the 2014 season.

Chase was injured all last season but was named yesterday in an Ireland A squad for a match against the MCC. The strongly-built McCarthy, who was not included, may be a better bet for Durham, given that he is also a useful batsman.

“I'm focusing on Durham,” he said. “I knew with John Hastings not coming back there might be a place available, but there's a lot of competition and I'm very grateful to have the opportunity.

“It's a really good environment and Neil Killeen taking charge of the second team has been good for me.

“Lancashire batted quite defensively and I think I got the rewards for persistence today.

“I played a bit with Peter Chase in Australia in the winter. It's good that he's fit again but I wouldn't want to follow in his footsteps by taking five for Durham and not playing again.”

In his third first-class game McCarthy opened up a contest which appeared to be drifting aimlessly with Lancashire still plodding along at 282 for five after 97 overs.

Durham had made poor use of the second new ball and nightwatchman Simon Kerrigan appeared in little difficulty, but McCarthy suddenly took three for seven in 14 balls just before lunch.

It became four for 13 in 21 balls shortly after the break and, having taken the only wicket in the day's first 90 minutes, he finished with five for 70.

Lancashire's last five wickets went down for 44 and they were all out for 326, trailing by 85.

With seven overs to be bowled in the morning before the new ball was taken, McCarthy opened up and had Steven Croft lbw in the fifth over with a ball which skidded on to the Lancashire captain.

Kerrigan's only scare came on 24, when he edged James Weighell where third slip should have been. Despite the ball being only seven overs old, Durham had opted for two men on the leg side boundary.

When McCarthy returned he struck twice in the 98th over. Alex Davies had made exactly half of a stand of 62 when he reached for a full-length ball wide of off stump and got a big inside edge into his timber.

Liam Livingstone drove his first ball past mid-off for four but three balls later a perfect away swinger took the edge on the way to wicketkeeper Michael Richardson.

Just before the break extra bounce accounted for Tom Bailey, giving Ryan Pringle his third catch at third slip.

McCarthy nipped one back to have Kerrigan lbw for 48 in the second over after lunch and Neil Wagner was run out at the non-striker's end.

Graham Onions got his fingertips to a fierce drive by Kyle Jarvis and deflected it, the ball still travelling with sufficient force to splatter the stumps.

Mark Stoneman and Keaton Jennings had 55 on the board before they were parted in the 11th over, Jennings playing back and edging Jarvis to give Livingstone his fifth catch of the match at first slip.

Stoneman pulled both Tom Bailey and Luke Procter for six, but was beaten to the half-century by Borthwick, who got there off 60 balls by cutting Luke Procter for his eighth four.

Because of the widespread field his second 50 took 100 balls and included only two fours, one of which was a cracking off drive audibly appreciated by watching selector James Whitaker.

The desire to press on after tea saw Stoneman edge to the wicketkeeper for 62 before Jack Burnham was run out for one, responding to a call from Borthwick for a single to Croft at mid-wicket.

Richardson made 35 before reverse sweeping a catch to backward point, leaving Collingwood to shepherd Borthwick to his second ton, just as he had with Jennings.