Borthwick proves top all-rounder

He completed a four-wicket haul for the first time in the Championship and made an unbeaten 48 when sent in to open in the absence of Michael Di Venuto with a thigh strain.

Graham Onions took four of Warwickshire’s six remaining wickets as they were dismissed for 137, leaving Durham to score 102 to win.

After winning their first two matches to stand joint top of the table, this was a chastening defeat for the visitors, especially after scoring 429 in their first innings.

A draw looked certain when they were 45-1, nine runs in front, with eight overs remaining on the third day. But two wickets in Borthwick’s first five balls began their collapse and he finished with 4-25.

With the bounce becoming more variable on the fourth day, Onions skidded one through to have Rikki Clarke lbw just as Durham’s first rain of the season arrived at 11.20.

Warwickshire were then 67-5 and after a 45-minute break it quickly became 69-7.

Jim Troughton edged Onions to wicketkeeper Michael Richardson when trying to withdraw his bat then Borthwick’s googly had nightwatchman Paul Best lbw.

Tim Ambrose and Chris Woakes put on 24 before Ruel Brathwaite replaced Borthwick and removed Woakes’s off-stump with a shooter.

Boyd Rankin then repeated his stubborn effort of the first innings as Ambrose continued to play fluently. He cut Brathwaite fiercely for four to reach 50 and the stand was worth 43 when he played across a full-length ball from Onions and became the fifth lbw victim of the innings.

Onions ended the innings by forcing Rankin to fend to gully.

Durham batted they had 28 on the board before Will Smith fell for nine.

Gordon Muchall and Borthwick survived lbw appeals but only 19 were needed when Muchall departed for 30. Ben Stokes helped Borthwick complete the task in 25.4 overs.