WORCESTERSHIRE were unable to cling on for a draw at Durham as The Pears suffered their first defeat of the County Championship season at Chester-le-Street.

Having declared on 254/4 just before lunch on the final day, Durham gave Worcestershire a 314-run total to claim victory.

A battling 10th wicket stand between tail-enders Adam Finch (18 off 53) and Dillon Pennington (14 off 47) lasted 14 of the final 19 overs but Australian spinner Matthew Kuhnemann broke the partnership when he bowled Pennington to claim his fifth wicket.

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A 73-run partnership between Azhar Ali (33) and Jack Haynes (40) had offered hope and despite a battling 42 from skipper Brett D'Oliveira, Kuhnemann (5-53) and Matthew Potts (3-67) did the damage for the hosts.

Haynes had achieved a career-best 134 not out in Worcestershire’s first innings of 366-5, in which they declared 59 runs behind to open up the game on day three.

Durham then resumed day four on 96-2 – an overall lead of 155 – and they extended their second innings score to 254-4 from 42 overs before declaring. Scott Borthwick completed a 112-ball century and added 196 for the third wicket with David Bedingham.

Finch ended the partnership when Bedingham (86) was caught by Haynes and new batter Ollie Robinson was dismissed on 13 to give Ben Gibbon his sixth wicket of the game.

Borthwick declared unbeaten on 108 with a lead of 313 as he chased victory with two sessions in the day still remaining. 

Worcestershire's opener of Libby and Pollock came to the crease with just three overs until lunch but the former went for a duck aftering edging a delivery from Potts to Michael Jones at first slip. 

And then after the interval, Pollock (2) lobbed a drive up to Ben Raine at mid-on as The Pears were reduced to 3/2.

But Ali and Haynes then began the recovery mission, both producing some eye-catching shots as the 50-partnership was brought up in 14 overs.

The stand was worth 73 when the introduction of Kuhnemann brought about three quick wickets. 

Azhar had made 33 off 64 balls when he went for a big hit against Kuhnemann and was caught at deep mid-wicket and Haynes was dismissed after making an accomplished 40 when he went to sweep Kuhnemann, and Raine again took a good catch.

The slow left armer then accounted for Worcestershire keeper-batter Gareth Roderick (2) and at tea, the visitors were 101-5.

Matthew Waite and Brett D'Oliveira looked to be building something worthy of a a positive end result but when Waite (21) was trapped LBW to Paul Coughlin and Leach was bowled without scoring by Kuhnemann, the hosts were closing in. 

D'Oliveira managed 42 before he nicked Potts through to the keeper and Gibbon (0) fell the same way as Worcestershire found themselves 166-9 with 19 overs still to play.

Finch and Pennington did what they could and defended admirably but in the end, Pennington fell to Kuhnemann with nine fielders around him as Worcestershire's innings was brought to a close.