MARK Stoneman led Durham's belated resistance on the third afternoon against Yorkshire, but the champions should still surge into an 11-point lead today with a game in hand.

After following on, 349 behind, Stoneman's second century of the season helped Durham to 244 for four at the close.

It was his fourth century in his last nine championship innings against the Tykes and he remained unbeaten on 115.

“It was hard work in the warm weather, but enjoyable and we are still in the game,” he said. “We knew the longer we could keep them out there fatigue would set in and there would be fewer good balls.

“We don't know why we keep batting much better in the second innings than the first. But as long as we have the belief and determination throughout the team to keep working at it we will keep trying to improve.”

Yorkshire skipper Andrew Gale said: “The heavy roller probably flattened the pitch a bit but Durham will have to bat a full session to draw level. We took their last five first innings wickets this morning and I see no reason why we can't do it again.”

Stoneman shared the biggest opening stand of the season with Keaton Jennings as they put on 116 to beat their 88 at home to Sussex in April.

Both left-handers had some difficulties against Adil Rashid, who snared Jennings for the second time in the match and also removed Paul Collingwood as he continued to push his Test claims.

Stoneman survived eight dot balls from the leg-spinner on 99, during which he edged just short of slip then almost chopped on.

He finally cut Rashid for his 13th four to complete his century off 155 balls after knuckling down to spend 95 balls over his second 50.

On a hot afternoon when the seamers were bound to tire Yorkshire would be grateful that Rashid was not in Spain with their England quartet.

After watching the first two days selector James Whitaker had to depart at lunchtime yesterday and missed Rashid's impressive spell.

It is quite common for teams following on to fare much better second time around, as Yorkshire did against Durham at Headingley in 2000.

Dismissed for 129 in reply to 314, they reached 386 for four with centuries from Michael Vaughan and Darren Lehmann.

With the pitch flat and the sun shining there seemed every reason to believe that Durham could wriggle off the hook yesterday until they lost two wickets just before tea.

Jennings, who had grafted diligently, departed for 41 when a firm forward push resulted in a bat-pad catch at silly mid-off.

Stoneman then survived a scare when Scott Borthwick called him for a risky single to cover, Will Rhodes' throw resulting in four overthrows.

After his patient half-century in the first innings, Borthwick seemed disinclined to dig in and edged a lavish drive at Steve Patterson to Jonny Bairstow.

It was a replica of his first innings dismissal, which ended a stand of 88 with Ryan Pringle, who found no further support and was left stranded on a career-best 69.

In the morning Yorkshire needed only 90 minutes to take the five remaining wickets for 68 runs. It meant the bowlers were still reasonably fresh when the follow-on was enforced Durham were all out for 208 and picked up one batting point to add to their two for bowling.

Overnight pair Pringle and Borthwick added 29 before Borthwick fell for 54, driving at Tim Bresnan and edging to Bairstow.

After their record stand, the Bresnan-Bairstow partnership immediately struck again when John Hastings was caught behind first ball.

This was just reward for some fine bowling by Bresnan, but the most accurate bowler, Patterson, was unable to add to his two wickets.

When Pringle clipped the last ball of an over to long leg for four Patterson's figures read 15-8-20-2 and in three more overs he conceded no more runs.

Jack Brooks, in contrast, began the day with 8-1-45-0 and saw his first ball cut for four by Jamie Harrison. But the next uprooted off and middle stumps, then extra bounce resulted in Chris Rushworth giving Bairstow another catch.

Pringle went to his 50 off 111 balls with the first of two successive fours in front of mid-wicket off Rashid. But the leg-spinner wrapped up the innings when he had Graham Onions lbw for the fourth duck.

With 20 minutes to bat until lunch Stoneman again made a rapid start to take Durham to 33 without loss.

He slowed down after fluent driving and cutting took him to 50 off 60 balls, but he remained alert to chances to score and a short-arm pull for six off Bresnan took him into the 90s.

After his first innings duck, Collingwood was quickly off the mark with a four driven wide of mid-on off Rashid. But after making 20 he edged a drive to slip.

Michael Richardson looked comfortable in contributing 29 to a stand of 45 until Brooks suddenly seamed one away to have him caught behind, leaving Gordon Muchall to progress to 21 at the close.