PETER Martin today gained a big vote of support from Australian batting ace David Boon in his battle to regain his England place.

Boon frustrated Lancashire's hopes of enforcing the follow-on in their Championship game against Durham with a typically obdurate unbeaten 85.

Martin only claimed one wicket in 20 overs, but he only conceded 31 runs and Boon said: "He was unlucky, because that was one of the best spells I have faced in a long time."

Both Martin and Glen Chapple, who had already shared Lancashire's best-ever last wicket stand at Old Trafford of 146, gave everything in a number of long spells, extracting every bit of pace and movement available from the pitch.

Chapple claimed two wickets, surprising both Jon Lewis and Melvyn Betts with fast yorkers, while Martin's only scalp was James Boiling caught at fourth slip by Graham Lloyd. That left Durham on 168-6, with today's start delayed due to rain, in reply to Lancashire's 506, still needing another 189 to avoid the follow-on.

Ian Austin had claimed the first wicket and was as accurate as ever, Mike Watkinson had Nick Speak caught at slip after the Lancastrian had battled 22 overs for 21, and Gary Yates justified his selection with 10 overs for 19 including the important wicket of Martin Speight.

But Boon at last found a willing ally in tail-ender John Wood to add 33 in eight overs in an unbroken seventh wicket stand.

Both sides suffered an injury blow, with Lancashire losing Watkinson with a worrying tricep problem which they feared may prevent him bowling for the rest of the match.

Durham's former Derbyshire and England batsman John Morris was unlikely to bat again today after being forced to retire hurt twice by a split thumb.

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