Photo via BBC Sport

Stokes takes six but Pears hit back against Durham

Ben Stokes produced his finest bowling display in nine years by capturing 6-94 at Chester-le-Street, yet Worcestershire mounted a fierce response on day three of their County Championship clash. In answer to Durham's first-innings total of 465, the visitors tallied 458 courtesy of Adam Hose's 105, alongside contributions from Brett D'Oliveira (82), Tom Taylor (61), and Jake Libby (55).

Stokes secured his first five-wicket haul at the venue since 2014 by trapping Taylor leg-before, later having substitute Fateh Singh caught to finish his six-wicket haul and end Worcestershire's innings.

The visiting attack then struck back hard during the final session, leaving Durham reeling at 119-6 before an unbroken 42-run partnership between Ollie Robinson and Kasey Aldridge steered the hosts to 161-6 at stumps. George O'Connor, appearing in his maiden first-class contest as a replacement for Ben Gibbon, made an immediate impression by clean-bowling Mayank Agarwal and dismissing Stokes for 12.

Combined with Matthew Waite's pair of wickets, Worcestershire carved out a prime opportunity to chase down a target, with Durham currently holding an overall advantage of 178 runs.