TOM Fell was cruelly out for 83 as Worcestershire took the attritional approach in reaching 223-4 from 83 overs on the first day of their must-win LV= County Championship match against Durham.

The County batsman put on 93 for the fourth wicket with Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who played the ball to long leg, where Graham Onions fielded it in a sufficiently fumbling manner to create indecision.

Fell called for a third run, to which his partner initially responded before changing his mind when they were almost together in mid-pitch.

His dive back into his crease was to no avail, ending a high-class innings at Chester-le-Street.

When bad light ended play, Kohler-Cadmore was unbeaten on 46 for the visitors, who need to win the last two games to have any hope of survival in Division One.

Worcestershire skipper Daryl Mitchell set out to blunt Onions and Chris Rushworth after being put in when play began 30 minutes late.

However, after mounting a painstaking vigil all morning to reach 17 off 92 balls, Mitchell fell to the third ball after lunch, playing back to a ball from off-spinner Ryan Pringle that turned just enough to gain an lbw decision.

Compared to his captain, Brett D'Oliveira had been positively fluent in making 36 out of an opening stand of 50 before falling lbw to Barry McCarthy.

But, with Fell playing himself in cautiously, the score advanced to only 67 off 33 overs at lunch.

Joe Clarke helped Fell put on 42 before he edged Onions low to third slip, where Gordon Muchall held a brilliant catch. His 19 runs took him past 500 in the Championship this season.

An early tea was taken after rain arrived with Fell on 32 and Kohler-Cadmore on six, leaving what would have been a 40-over final session had bad light not intervened.

A rare false stroke from Fell saw him edge Jamie Harrison for four but the drive through extra cover off the same bowler that took him to 50 off 119 balls was a shot of pure elegance.

A hook in front of square off McCarthy was another textbook stroke and his third Championship hundred of the season looked a certainty until his unfortunate dismissal.

Ross Whiteley had moved comfortably to 16 at the close.