DURHAM found some wag in the tail as the pink ball did not appear to live up to its reputation for staying hard and shiny for longer in the Specsavers County Championship Division Two game against Worcestershire at Chester-le-Street.

Although the cloud cover remained batting looked considerably easier after lunch as the last three wickets added 133 to take the total to 197.

Stuart Poynter and Mark Wood extended their eighth-wicket stand to 54 before the latter fell for 21 when he cut a long hop from Josh Tongue straight to deep backward point.

The return of John Hastings held no fears for Barry McCarthy, who looked supremely comfortable, while Poynter cheekily steered the burly Australian over the slips to reach 43.

Without addition, however, he played acros an in-swinging yorker and was bowled by Tongue.

That brought in last man Chris Rushworth who had scored 57 and 38 in his previous two innings.

He greeted the introduction of Moeen Ali with two fours through the covers and reached 30 before lifting a catch to deep square leg to leave Tongue with 4-41.