Shahzad four in vain as Durham stroll home

Shahzad four in vain as Durham stroll home

An unbeaten half-century from Scott Borthwick gave Durham their second County Championship win of the season, consigning Sussex to their first defeat of the campaign in the process.

With Durham already on 115/2 by the time the first ball was delivered this morning, it was inevitable there would be a result of some sort as the two sides with 100% records thus far battled it out at Chester-le-Street.

The hosts would have fancied their chances coming into the day, with less than 150 runs needed, although a few jitters were sent through the camp with the dismissal of Michael Richardson for eight, adding just the one run to his overnight score. As has often been the case this season, it was Ajmal Shahzad who took the wicket, one of eight in the match for a man who has revolutionised his form since swapping Trent Bridge for Hove.

Those nerves were quickly quelled, however, as Scot Calum MacLeod joined Borthwick at the crease, with the World Cup star contributing only 26 of the pair’s 83-run partnership, taking up 75 balls in an excellent supporting role for Durham and Borthwick.

MacLeod was unable to see the game through though, out to Shahzad – the only wicket-taker in Durham’s second innings – to give the fast bowler his 20th wicket of the Championship season.

That brought Paul Collingwood – hero in Durham’s first game of the season – to the crease, as he and Borthwick navigated the hosts to the target for the loss of just four wickets, as the number three crashed two boundaries off Oliver Robinson to seal the game and an unbeaten 97 in the process.

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