Durham in box seat but league chase is in the balance

The North East county, chasing a third championship in four years, toppled Sussex by 208 runs at Hove to move to the summit on 211 points.

Behind them are Warwickshire, whose exciting run chase against Yorkshire was halted by the light, and Lancashire, who were surprisingly beaten by Worcestershire earlier in the week.

Durham have 211 points but have played a game more than their rivals, with Warwickshire (204) and Lancashire (201) both having two games to play.

Somerset, who were humbled by bottom side Hampshire are fourth on 179, while the drama is not limited to the top of the table, with Yorkshire now looking on the brink of the drop after failing to return from Birmingham with a win.

Having seen Lancashire toppled inside two days by Worcestershire, Durham knew they had a chance to take advantage of their rivals’ slip, and they did just that, wrapping up a 208-run victory at 2.16pm.

Durham do not play in next week’s round of matches, but face Worcestershire in the final round, and can rest up safe in the knowledge their form is good after bowling out Sussex for 312 as they chased 521 to win.

England Test wicketkeeper Matt Prior was the main hurdle for them to clear and, moving on to 77 from his overnight 22, he looked in ominous form.

But when he was trapped leg before by Ian Blackwell (5-102) the game was almost up and, after Graham Onions had broken up a late partnership between Wayne Parnell and Ben Brown, Durham were home and hosed.

Somerset’s hopes are hanging by a thread after an innings and 61-run defeat to Hampshire.

Stand-in captain Alfonso Thomas fell six runs short of his first century in English cricket for the hosts, but that was not enough to prevent Somerset from only picking up two points.

Hampshire, meanwhile, are now in with a realistic chance of survival. They have won three of their last four matches and took 23 points from this match.

Somerset resumed on 266-7, needing a further 157 to avoid an innings defeat. They held out for 21.2 overs before being bowled out for 362, Imran Tahir claiming 4-125 and Dimitri Mascarenhas 3-70.

Thomas was unbeaten on 79 overnight and added 15 before mistiming a drive off Tahir to be caught at mid-on.

In Division Two, a brilliant spell from left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha helped Surrey wrap up a comprehensive 333-run victory on the final morning at promotion rivals Northamptonshire.

India international Ojha provided a masterclass from the Wantage Road End, recording outstanding second-innings figures of six wickets for just eight runs from his 16.3 overs.