Durham’s seven-match unbeaten run ended by young Sussex side
Durham’s seven-match unbeaten run was ended in emphatic fashion as Sussex wrapped up their seventh Specsavers County Championship win of the season.
Set 264 to win on the final day at the ICG Emirates, the hosts failed miserably, being bowled out for 131 to lose by 132 runs.
Durham were 131-9 when play was halted just before 2pm for rain.
But on the resumption at 4.15 it was all over in six balls as Graham Onions drove Chris Jordan straight to mid-off.
Five defeats had cost Sussex a chance of promotion so they fielded a young side for this match at Chester-le-Street.
There were three wickets each for 20-year-old George Garton and Stuart Whittingham.
Jordan also deservedly picked up three, his two early ones coming as Durham crumbled to 61-7 before James Weighell put bat to ball in contributing 38 to a stand of 50 with Brydon Carse (23not out).
Whittingham took two in three balls after lunch when he swung one through left-hander Weighell’s airy drive to take out the middle stump, then Chris Rushworth played on.
That brought in Onions and he and Carse survived for 20 balls before the rain arrived.
Durham had resumed on five without loss in pursuit of 264 on a glorious morning.
They got through the day’s first eight overs without mishap. But Tom Latham’s exit for four with the total on 19 sparked a dispirited procession.