An unbeaten half-century by Jim Troughton kept Warwickshire afloat after a two-day defeat looked possible against LV County Championship Division One leaders Durham at Chester-le-Street.

The visitors were 34 for three, still 104 behind, when Troughton was joined by Tim Ambrose and the pair rode their luck to put on 82 in 19 overs.

Ian Blackwell had Ambrose caught at slip for 39 in his second over, but Warwickshire were only 11 behind at the close on 127 for four.

Durham were without paceman Graham Onions, after he was not released by England despite not being selected for the fifth npower Ashes Test, although they had no complaints.

Coach Geoff Cook said: "We had a call on Wednesday evening saying they would prefer to keep Graham involved. He has played his part this summer and deserves to be there."

Cook added that Durham were slightly disappointed to be dismissed for 273 earlier, their remaining six wickets adding 100 runs after play resumed at 11.45 following rain.

Boyd Rankin, the 6ft 7in Irish seamer, completed his first five-wicket haul in the Championship after conceding almost six runs an over on the first day.

Further showers meant only 10 overs were bowled before 2pm and during that time Durham scored 46 runs for the loss of two wickets.

Blackwell completed a 59-ball half-century by driving Rankin to the cover boundary in the first over, but then edged Naqqash Tahir to Ambrose, pushing rather loosely at an away swinger.

Dale Benkenstein moved swiftly on to 73 before he pushed forward and edged a good ball from Rankin to second slip.

While picking up two wickets on the first day, Rankin conceded 45 runs in eight overs, and he continued in the same vein until he tightened up in the afternoon session.

Phil Mustard had made 25 when he flashed wide of off stump and was brilliantly caught by Troughton above his head at backward point. Two balls later Callum Thorp got an inside edge into his stumps.

Plunkett lifted his average with a restrained 31 not out off 75 balls, while Mitch Claydon and Mark Davies helped him add 40 for the last two wickets.

When Warwickshire batted again, 138 adrift, skipper Ian Westwood departed in the third over, fending Claydon to Plunkett at gully.

They lost two more wickets straight after tea. Ant Botha swished carelessly at the first ball from Thorp and missed but repeated the stroke two balls later and edged to Mustard.

Tony Frost played one scoring stroke, cover driving Claydon for four, before the next ball was dug in and found the shoulder of his bat for Thorp to dive forward and hold the catch at third slip.