Record-breaking day for Durham

Poynter made his maiden championship century and Richardson scored his first in nearly four years as the pair shared Durham’s highest ever sixth wicket stand of 278.

Poynter was eventually out for a career-best 170 but he and Richardson had completely transformed the game as Durham ended on 520, a lead of 93, and at the close Derbyshire were 1 without loss from two overs.

Poynter said: "All season I felt like I'm playing okay and just needed some time in the middle on a good wicket. I just looked to be positive and things went my way at the start.

"Richo (Michael Richardson) helped out, he played brilliantly and took it to the next level. I try and be positive, get singles to get myself going and it went well today.

"When it's your day you've got to make sure it's a big one and I did that, but I was a bit disappointed to get out when I did because I was looking to bat all day."

Derbyshire held all the cards at the start of the day when Durham resumed 312 runs behind and still 162 away from avoiding the follow-on.

When Cameron Steel went in the first over, caught at second slip off Duanne Olivier, Derbyshire must have sensed there was a chance to take complete control of the game but Graham Clark and Paul Collingwood gave the first indications of the fightback to come.

Collingwood responded to a painful blow amidships from Hardus Viljoen by hooking him for six and Clark reached his 50 with a straight driven four off the South African.

The pair had added 54 when Ravi Rampaul found some late movement to have Collingwood caught behind for 27 and in the next over, Clark was lbw to one from Tony Palladino that kept low.

Durham were now back in trouble but that was to prove Derbyshire’s last success for as Richardson and Poynter first regrouped and then dominated on a pitch which had now flattened out.

Derbyshire had a chance to break the stand when Richardson was 33 and the total 224 but wicketkeeper Daryn Smit put down the edge off Olivier diving to his right.

It proved a big moment in the day and perhaps the match as the pair moved through the gears in the afternoon sunshine with Poynter completing his century from 128 balls as 148 runs came in the session.

Poynter cut Matt Critchley’s leg spin for his 17th four to reach 150 which also took Durham past their previous highest sixth wicket stand of 249 between Gordon Muchall and Phil Mustard against Kent at Canterbury in 2006.

Richardson completed his first championship century since May 21st, 2014 in the next over and it was a surprise when Poynter played across a low full toss from Olivier and was lbw.

Palladino had Richardson lbw for 115 and finished with 4 for 87 but it is Durham who go into the final day on top.

Palladino said: "We came this mornng with the view to making some early inroads and we had them 175 for 5, looking in a good position but then Poynter and Richardson played pretty well.

"They took the initiative and put the bad ball away and once the seam went soft it was hard work to bowl and they took full advantage.

"We dished up too many four balls if we are brutally honest and for the class we've got in the attack, we've got to be harsh on ourselves.

"We've got a good honest changing room and we know when we haven't bowled well and when we have. We haven't bowled ridiculously badly but we could have bowled better as a unit."