BBC News Tees

Brydon Carse cracked two sixes in two balls to bring up Durham's third batting point with a ball to spare in the 110th over.

The first went into the upper tier if The Tavern Stand and Max Holden was the fielder who had to climb the stairs to retrieve it. The next delivery from Luke Hollman then found its way to the pavilion boundary.

Carse added 58 for Durham's eighth wicket with Liam Trevaskis but his luck ran out when he tried to hook a ball from Martin Andersson and gloved it to the keeper.

Trevaskis is on 73, having made 88 at Hove a few weeks ago, and has batted nicely after coming to the crease last night. Play did not get underway until 2.40pm because of rain and there are 36 overs left in the day if the light holds.

Repairs to a 4ft (1.2m) wide sinkhole in County Durham could be completed by next week

The road - where the B6310 at Medomsley Bank joins the A694 near Lintzford - has been closed since the hole appeared on Tuesday afternoon.

Anthea Coxon, Durham County Council’s highway services manager, said: “Engineers have completed their assessment of the situation and we have worked closely with the Coal Authority to develop a programme of appropriate repairs.

"Our teams are working hard to excavate the sinkhole, with a view to backfilling it and making it safe. Staff will be working throughout the weekend to carry out these repairs, which are expected to be completed early next week."

BBCCopyright: BBC

A diversion has been put in place by the council

BBCCopyright: BBC

Middlesex put Durham in this morning but only took the one wicket with the visitors 81 runs to the good at lunch. But in the afternoon session they lost three for nine as Middlesex fought back in the sunshine of St John's Wood.

Michael Jones was bowled by Tim Murtagh early in the afternoon session for 37 before Luke Hollman got among the wickets. The leggy saw Scott Borthwick chop onto his off stump when on 15.

That brought new England captain Ben Stokes to the crease. After a single he hit a boundary with a reverse sweep off Hollman. But a few minutes later he was gone. Stokes tried to put Hollman into the pavilion but only found Toby Roland-Jones at long on when on 15.

At tea Durham were 178-4 and with Sean Dickson and David Bedingham missing they are really into the middle order now.

Durham were put in under grey skies this morning and in damp and humid conditions following overnight thunder storms. But the morning belonged to the batsmen rather than the bowlers.

Alex Lees looked unlucky to be given out just before lunch, lbw to Toby Roland-Jones. He was a long way down the track but umpire Martin Saggers raised his finger. He made 44.

It was the penultimate over before the break and Durham's opening stand was worth 81.

Play has just resumed in bright sunshine and Durham are 88-1 with Michael Jones on 35. Interestingly we have just had the first unscheduled ball change of this game. It was 32 overs in. Durham had nine changes in their last game!

In two weeks their fast bowler Matty Potts will hopefully make his England debut here. But he's just an observer for this one. Having bowled so many overs this season already, he has been rested.