Date-stamped : 25 May97 - 06:15 Durham`s bowling exposed By Tim Wellock at Chester-le-Street Second day of four: Worcestershire 345-6 v Durham DURHAM`S progress under David Boon has run into troubled waters following injuries to the four pacemen with whom they began this season`s championship. Following Wednesday`s wash-out, Boon inserted Worcestershire, hoping that his second-string attack would enlighten him favourably on his path of discovery with regard to the talent at his disposal. After 10 wides had been sent down, seven of them by Steve Lugsden, Boon even tried an over of his own off-spin before lunch as hopes of exploiting the sap in the pitch vanished. After two seasons wrecked by injury, it was a sad return for 20-year-old Lugsden, who was not helped by the slippery conditions. The only consolation for Durham was that Graeme Hick, after moving imperiously to 39, flicked almost contemptuously at another wide leg-side ball from Lugsden and was caught at the wicket. Tim Curtis provided the early ballast with a limpet- like 43, Tom Moody pressed the accelerator with nine fours in his 61 and Gavin Haynes maintained the momentum with a fluent 67. The experienced Alan Walker was the only Durham seamer to maintain a respectable line and was rewarded with the wickets of both openers. The sheer depth of Worcestershire`s batting, however, exposed the frailties of the home attack and David Leatherdale enjoyed himself in an unbeaten 44. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Newport follows Sheriyar`s lead By Tim Wellock at Chester-le-Street Third day of four: Durham (132 & 125-1) trail Worcs (351-6 dec) by 94 runs THE performance of Alamgir Sheriyar provided a microcosm of his career yesterday as he declined from virtually unplayable in his opening spell to almost unreachable when Durham followed on 219 behind. A wicked inswinging yorker which bowled Jon Lewis was the highlight of Sheriyar`s four for 53, but then Lewis made 47 not out as Durham fared better in their second innings. Sheriyar claimed a hat-trick in only his second first- class game, for Leicestershire against Durham three years ago. But his talent remained unfulfilled and he was released in 1995. He is now a fixture in a Worcestershire side who again proved the value of accurate seam bowling, as opposed to Durham`s wayward pace, on a pitch which was always likely to improve after the first day`s washout. The other contrast between these sides is in the depth of their batting, and Durham`s long, flimsy tail was easily demolished by Phil Newport, who continued his fine start to the season as the last six wickets went down for 17 runs. With Mike Roseberry making a century in the second team, the Durham batsmen could not afford to fail again, and after a David Leatherdale skidder trapped Paul Collingwood lbw, John Morris had an unbroken stand of 83 with Lewis. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Worcs attack in perfect condition By Tim Wellock at Chester-le-Street Durham drew with Worcs DAMP, early season weather has denied Worcestershire two championship wins but it has also provided conditions suitable for their seam-dominated attack. With no genuine pacemen and no front-line spinner, in the absence of the injured Richard Illingworth, they went into the match against Durham with six seamers. Tom Moody, who topped Worcestershire`s bowling averages last season and took the new ball in the last two matches, sent down only two overs of off-spin but the rest all played their part in inflicting Durham`s discomfort. The leading protagonist was 23-year-old Alamgir Sheriyar, born in Birmingham of Afghan parents. His whippy left arm destroyed Durham`s top order in the first innings, claimed two more wickets in another probing morning spell yesterday, then ended David Boon`s defiance when victory was slipping away. After declining from 142 for one to 148 for four, Durham still needed 71 to avoid an innings defeat. Boon put on 63 with Martin Speight, who edged to first slip shortly after lunch. This brought in Mike Foster, with only the flimsy tail to follow. Foster, bowled first ball in the first innings, again threatened a swift departure before launching into some forthright strokes. Averaging 56.25 in the championship, Boon reached a 113-ball 50 with a flurry of boundaries off David Leatherdale, prompting Moody to try an over of leg-spin from Tim Curtis, which merely helped Foster to his maiden championship 50. Sheriyar returned to trap Boon lbw for 57 with his first ball then bowled Foster for 58. At tea, Durham were 103 ahead on 322 for seven. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)