THE pink ball wreaked havoc when Durham were put in by Worcestershire and slumped from 12-0 to 18-5 in Specsavers County Championship Division Two at Chester-le-Street.

A wicket fell in each over from the sixth to the 10th, three of them to former Durham player John Hastings who had Ben Stokes caught behind for nought when trying to withdraw his bat from a steeply-bouncing ball.

Paul Collingwood restored a semblance of sanity by making 25 as he and Ryan Pringle put on 46 before both fell on 64 and at the break Durham were 97-7.

The expected debut of New Zealand Test player Tom Latham did not materialise for Durham because of a foot injury.

In cloudy conditions Worcestershire opted not to toss and with the floodlights on from the start skipper Joe Leach and Hastings made excellent use of the pink ball.

When they pitched it up it was swinging. When they hit the deck it bounced and seamed.

Cameron Steel was first to go, playing back and edging a regulation catch to Daryl Mitchell at second slip.

Leach nipped one sharply into left-hander Keaton Jennings who got an inside edge into his leg stump.

Three wickets fell on 18 although Graham Clark looked unlucky to be adjudged lbw to Leach when replays suggested it would have missed leg stump.

Jack Burnham pushed forward and edged Hastings behind and after the Australian removed Stokes he bowled three more overs before resting with 8-4-10-3.

There was a wicket each for Ed Barnard and Josh Tongue who had Collingwood caught low down at gully by Moeen Ali.

Stuart Poynter was on 16 at the break with Mark Wood on 15.