Jonathan Trott ensures Warwickshire in position to push for victory

Warwickshire are in command of their Division Two clash against Durham heading into the final day of action at Emirates Riverside.

The home side were unable to kick on from their promising start at the end of day two. Early wickets held back their progress, and although Gareth Harte and the lower order put forward a decent effort they were only able to put 297 on the board in reply to 424 as Oliver Hannon-Dalby finished with figures of 4 for 61.

Matt Salisbury troubled the Warwickshire batting line up, claiming three wickets Durham pressed for a response. However, another composed knock of fifty from Jonathan Trott took the game away with the visitors boasting a lead of 279 at the close.

Durham endured a poor start to the third day losing Cameron Steel on 51 in the first over as he was caught behind. Will Smith made only 2 when he became the second victim of the day, edging a rising delivery from Hannon-Dalby.

Paul Collingwood displayed positive intent with a couple of early boundaries, but his underwhelming season continued when Hannon-Dalby pinned him lbw for 9. Graham Clark continued the Durham morning collapse when he edged an attempted sweep to Ian Bell at second slip off Jeetan Patel, while Ryan Davies followed in the same manner for a duck.

The home side were in need of a partnership to stem the tide. Harte and Ryan Pringle offered resistance until the brink of the tea break when Pringle became Hannon-Dalby's fourth wicket of the innings, ending the stand of 48.

Nathan Rimmington came out with an attacking intent, scoring five boundaries in a partnership of 54 with Harte. However, his dismissal brought about a swift end to the Durham innings, falling just short of the 300 mark as Chris Wright claimed the scalps of Rimmington and Harte.

Warwickshire held a lead of 127 at the beginning of their second innings. Dominic Sibley made 18 before he became the first wicket to fall as Matt Salisbury found the edge. The Durham seamer continued his rich vein of form by removing Bell for 4 as Collingwood took good catch at second slip.

Rimmington kept the pressure on as he produced a fine delivery to bowl Will Rhodes. Trott, as he did in the first innings, brought a sense of calm to the crease. He combined with Adam Hose for a partnership of 64 for the fourth wicket to turn the momentum away from Durham.

They tried to break back into the game as Hose departed lbw to Rushworth for 15. Trott survived a good shout for a catch at short leg off Pringle before he passed fifty once again, reaching the milestone in 70 balls.

However, Salisbury was able to remove him when he glanced a leg-side drive straight to Clark. Tim Ambrose and Keith Barker saw their team through to the close on 152 for 5 with a formidable lead over the home side.