WORCESTERSHIRE'S eighth-wicket pair, Steve Rhodes and Chris Liptrot, survived for 28 overs to deny Durham victory at Chester-le-Street.

They came together with the visitors on 63 for seven but were scarcely troubled as the earlier accuracy of Durham's young seamers deserted them.

For most of his innings left-hander Liptrot faced the left-arm spin of Graeme Bridge, who had to bowl into the stiff wind and took his only single when Steve Harmison briefly replaced Bridge.

Rhodes meanwhile batted for 34 overs for 21 to take the total to 85 for seven at the close.

Vikram Solanki dropped down the order to six after damaging a finger but had to go in sooner as the top order crumbled after being set a victory target of 251 in 54 overs. He made 11 before Bridge bowled.

Steep bounce accounted for both openers, starting with the sixth ball of the innings from Harmison. It lobbed off Anurag Singh's bat to gully and three overs later Phil Weston tried to turn Nicky Hatch to leg and the ball flew off the shoulder of the bat to third slip.

Graeme Hick followed his 200 not out by cutting and pulling successive balls from Harmison for four. But in going for another cut in the same over he found himself cramped for room and edged to wicketkeeper Andrew Pratt.

David Leatherdale also went for a cut and edged to Pratt off Ian Hunter then Danny Law then gained lbw verdicts in successive overs.

Paul Pollard played round a full-length ball and Andy Bichel was beaten when looking to drive. That made it 45 for six at tea, but despite the phalanx of slips Rhodes was able to leave a lot of short, wayward bowling, particularly from Harmison.

Durham, resuming on 99 for two in the morning, added 96 in 32 overs to reach lunch on 195 for four. Paul Collingwood made an excellent 68, while Martin Love hit 62. Durham eventually declared on 237 for seven.