Durham face title wait

Sep 27 2008

Durham completed the innings victory over Kent which they hope will result in a maiden County Championship title tonight.

Callum Thorp's career-best seven for 88 and three wickets for Steve Harmison hastened Durham to an innings-and-71-run win against their hapless hosts, who are therefore relegated from Division One.

The visitors claimed five quick wickets this morning to go eight points clear at the top of the table - with only hours of the season left.

Kent's Ryan McLaren remained unbeaten on 65 out of 204 all out.

By contrast Nottinghamshire, who began the final round of matches as the title favourites, saw their slim hopes reduced even further.

Hampshire finally declared on 449 for five after Liam Dawson completed his century, leaving the hosts an almost-impossible 442 to win in two-and-a-half sessions.

Nottinghamshire lost Graeme Swann, promoted to opener, and Mark Wagh cheaply and then Will Jefferson (24) on the stroke of lunch as Dimitri Mascarenhas claimed all three wickets with the hosts making just 48.

Sussex put on 130 for the loss of four wickets as they reached lunch against Yorkshire on 248 for six in their second innings - a lead of 55.

Murray Goodwin remains unbeaten on 80 as leg-spinner Adil Rashid claimed all the wickets to fall in the session.

Lancashire require just seven runs to beat Somerset, having progressed to 175 for two from 122 without loss after Mark Chilton was dismissed for 97 and Paul Horton 58.