Warwicks, with Ian Bell and Jon Trott who are on international duty,batted first at Chester Le Street and were soon in trouble.
Captain Ian Westwood was first to go. He was trapped lbw for 5 by Thorp who went on to take five wickets.
Jon Troughton was out for 14 and Ant Botha 23, followed four balls later by Tim Ambrose who was out yet again without scoring.
That left the score on 70-4 and a run later, Tony Frost who had made 19 was out.
Javid, Chris Woakes and Rikki Clarke who top scored with 32 all lost their wickets before Tahir and Sreesanth were mopped up, leaving Warwicks on a sorry 135 all out.
Durham through Di Venuto and Stoneman put on 43 in 8.3 overs before the latter was caught by Ambrose off the bowling of Woakes.
His replacement Smith survived until the end of the over and then Di Venuto faced Tahir. A deflection fell for Tim Ambrose to catch and Di Venuto was out for 40.
After 17 overs, Durham were 65-2 and by stumps, they had lost the wickets of Smith and Chanderpaul to close at 172-4, some 37 runs ahead.