Lancashire’s Paul Coughlin came back to haunt his former county Durham, as he hit his second first-class century to put his side in the ascendency on the third day of their County Championship fixture.
Lancashire came into the day on top, holding a first innings lead of 75 after bowling Durham out for 295 on day two, but they were left reeling after Matthew Potts blew away their top order to leave them 72-6.
However, a partnership of 131 between Michael Jones and Coughlin halted the slide for the Red Rose, as they both passed fifty and built a big lead for the visitors.
Jones fell after tea but Coughlin notched three figures for the first time in a Lancashire shirt and they declared on 260-9, setting Durham a target of 336 to win.
With Lancashire looking to build on their first innings lead of 75, Durham needed quick wickets in the morning and they managed to get George Balderson cheaply, as he was caught behind off the bowling of James Minto.
Durham continued to probe and they got a second soon after as Ben Raine removed Keaton Jennings, after he edged one to Kasey Aldridge at second slip, who produced a stunning diving catch.
First innings centurion Marcus Harris then came to the crease and ticked Lancashire’s lead past 100, but he was not there for long as he was caught behind off the bowling of Potts.
The England bowler then had another just three balls later as he bowled Josh Bohannon, with the Lancashire man leaving an inswinger that clattered into his stumps.
Potts had a third when Matty Hurst edged to second slip to leave Durham in dreamland, but Jones and injury substitute George Bell managed to get Lancashire to lunch without further loss.
Jones and Bell’s aim in the first exchanges of the afternoon was to protect their wickets and they did just that as they successfully negotiated the first half-hour after lunch.
However, Bell then departed after he edged a Raine delivery to second slip.
Lancashire’s lead ticked over 150 with a rare boundary on the leg side from Coughlin, who looked to be more proactive than his team-mates at the crease.
Coughlin, who sparked some impetus into Lancashire’s innings, and Jones continued to frustrate the hosts and were scoring more freely later in the afternoon session as their partnership continued to build and the lead moved past 200.
Coughlin then reached fifty for the first time in a Lancashire shirt and Jones followed soon after, as they completed a successful rescue mission for their side with an imposing target now in their sights.
Jones hit the first six of the innings down the ground just before tea and they resumed their pursuit of runs after tea.
However, Callum Parkinson got the breakthrough as Jones was caught after mistiming a sweep by Aldridge, who took a superb one-handed catch, which helped him equal Durham’s club record for catches in an innings.
The Red Rose ticked their lead over 300 in the evening session, as Coughlin was joined by Tom Bailey as they prepared to face the second new ball and the former Durham man smashed his first six of the innings.
Bailey was then lbw at the hands of Raine with the new ball to give Durham their eighth, while Mitch Stanley was then run out by Parkinson.
Coughlin then notched up his century and immediately after Lancashire declared on 260-9, setting their hosts 336 for the win.
Durham were then due to face eight overs of bowling, but bad light intervened, bringing an early close to play.
Report by ECB Reporters’ Network, supported by Rothesay.