A record stand on day three of the Vitality County Championship Division One match with Durham at Kidderminster failed to prevent Worcestershire going down by 185 runs.

Despite a strong performance from Nathan Smith and Matthew Waite, a target of 458 proved too formidable to overcome.

The pair partnered up at the crease at a challenging stage, with the hosts positioned at a concerning 135-6.

 

 

Read more: Cricket: Durham take control at Worcestershire

 

 

Their partnership of 103 runs in 30 overs for the seventh wicket showed an admirable fight, surpassing the previous best for that wicket against Durham of 101 by Ross Whiteley and Ben Cox at New Road five years earlier.

Smith, in sterling form following a half-century at Trent Bridge and 33 not out in the first innings, scored 57.

Waite also excelled, top-scoring with 62 before Worcestershire was bowled out in the latter stages of the day.

Pears head coach Alan Richardson said: "Ultimately, I'm really frustrated and disappointed that we didn’t put together a performance I know we are capable of.

"Durham played really well and put us under pressure but I'm a bit frustrated that we haven’t done ourselves justice.

"I would say we were a little bit scruffy with the ball at times which cost us.

"That is something for us to look at and make sure we can contain and put pressure on for long periods of time.

"With the bat, we never really got going.

"We lost wickets in clusters at times."

Durham, who set a daunting 458 target, further enhanced their position by increasing their overnight score from 319-5 to 397-5.

Opener Jake Libby demonstrated his class once again, delivering his second half-century of the match.

However, only Gareth Roderick and Rob Jones from the top six batters managed to exceed 30 runs, resulting in Worcestershire's disappointment at being bowled out twice in only 136 overs.

It fell to the seventh-wicket pair to carry the fight before Durham claimed victory just before the close of play.

Worcestershire will now look ahead to their contest against Somerset at Kidderminster, which will commence on Friday at 11am.