If it wasn't for John Crawley, Hampshire would be on the verge of a first-ever Rose Bowl defeat against Durham.

Crawley missed out on a third hundred of the season when he lost his off stump to Durham's man of the moment Callum Thorp, but his third half-century in as many innings could be vital in the context of this match.

Durham are one of only two counties never to have won a match in either form of the game at The Rose Bowl Warwickshire are the other but only Crawley's 93 from 167 balls has looked like denying them victory in their sixth visit to West End.

It was an innings which included 16 fours and was further evidence that the former England batsman is enjoying his finest season yet for Hampshire since his move from Lancashire four years ago.

After resuming on 22 not out yesterday, he led the county to a first innings lead on a wicket of variable bounce.

Comfortably Hampshire's leading scorer with 717 runs at 59.75 so far this season, Crawley saw Chris Benham (13), Sean Ervine (0 from 12 balls), Dimitri Mascarenhas (1 from 15 balls) and the poorly Nic Pothas (17) all caught by wicketkeeper Phil Mustard before he was joined by Shane Warne.

Durham were without Mark Davies, whose suspect back stiffened up overnight, preventing him from bowling at all yesterday.

And Warne ensured he capitalised, thumping consecutive deliveries from part time off spinner Gareth Breese for 6,4,6 in his 25 from 20 balls.

But he and Crawley were both out to Thorp in the third over after tea, shortly after Hampshire had passed Durham's first innings' 234.

Warne was out to a juggled catch at mid on and Crawley was beaten through the gate before Chris Tremlett (12 from 12 balls) thumped a straight six to extend Hampshire's first innings lead to 22.

Durham were indebted to SIX catches for wicketkeeper Mustard, a personal best for the Colonel' but not a county record, and will be confident of securing their first championship win in four attempts at The Rose Bowl, if they can set Hampshire more than 300 to win.

If they do it will largely be due to the efforts of Thorp, who has now recorded three career bests in the last week.

One day figures of 6-17 at the weekend were followed by 75 with the bat against Hampshire, and his 6-55 yesterday.

Thorp, who qualifies to play for Durham as a non-overseas player by virtue of his English parents, was recommended to the county by Michael Hussey.

A late developer, the 31-year-old had never taken more than three first class wickets in an innings before running through Hampshire's line up yesterday.

Thorp has now doubled his previous personal bests with bat and ball in successive days and in the twilight of his career.

And, worryingly for Hampshire, three key players were below par yesterday.

Nic Pothas had a stomach bug so batted two places lower than his customary six, and Crawley had to deputise behind the stumps at times.

More worryingly, Ervine suffered some reaction to the left knee that sustained Michael Owen-like cruciate damage at the end of last season.

It meant that David Griffiths and Shaun Udal both had stints as substitute fielders.

And with James Bruce unable to bowl at all yesterday because of the chest injury that forced him to miss last Friday's C&G Trophy defeat against Sussex, Durham were able to progress to 165-3 at stumps, a lead of 143.

Queenslander Jimmy Maher, Durham's only overseas player, made 57 from 153 balls before Gary Scott (34 not out from 75 balls) and Dale Benkenstein (14 not out from 37 balls) led the visitors to a promising position at the close.