A CENTURY stand between Adam Wheater and Ryan ten Doeschate manoeuvred Essex into a match-winning position in their County Championship clash against Durham at Emirates Riverside.

The visitors skittled the home side for 99, handing them an 83-run lead to take into their second innings.

Durham did make early inroads, reducing Tom Westley's men to 53 for five.

However, Wheater and Ten Doeschate combined to take the game away from the hosts with a partnership of 125, building a substantial advantage worth 346 runs in their bid to claim their third win of the campaign.

Durham resumed on 58 for six in the morning session, and it did not take long for Essex to claim the remaining four wickets.

Sam Cook pinned Ned Eckersley with an inswinger, while Peter Siddle was on point to remove Brydon Carse's off-stump.

Jamie Porter then prised out Potts and Chris Rushworth in successive deliveries to end the innings.

With a lead of 83 runs, Essex had the opportunity to build a match-winning platform.

Raine and Rushworth combined to dismantle the visitors' top order as the latter removed Alastair Cook with a fine delivery.

Raine bowled a tight line and was rewarded with the wickets of Nick Browne and Tom Westley before lunch.

After the interval Paul Walter led a counter attack in a signal of intent from the visitors. Raine returned from the Finchale End to halt Walter's surge as he edged behind to Eckersley.

Carse then produced a rising delivery to dismiss Michael Pepper, leaving the visitors 53 for five.

With the game in the balance, Ten Doeschate and Wheater came to the fore for their side, displaying controlled aggression to swing momentum back in the favour of the visitors.

The two players frustrated Durham throughout the afternoon and reached their century partnership from 133 balls.

Ten Doeschate was the first to pass fifty, earning his third half-century of the term.

Wheater followed his team-mate to the milestone, nudging a quick single into the leg-side. 

The stand was broken by Carse after tea as he trapped Ten Doeschate on the crease for 55.

Wheater made his way towards a century, and was seemingly well poised having blunted the home side's bowling attack.

However, he was run out 19 short of his first ton of the season courtesy of a direct hit by Potts at the bowler's end.

Simon Harmer and Sam Cook were unbeaten at the close with their side 263 for eight.