Durham keep hold of county championship title with crushing win over Nottinghamshire

Published on Saturday 12 September 2009 19:38

DURHAM have retained their LV County Championship Division One title after wrapping up an innings and 52-run victory against Nottinghamshire yesterday.

The north-east county headed into the game against their second-placed rivals needing to take at least 11 points from the game at Riverside, a feat they in essence achieved on Friday after snaring maximum batting points and the required number of bowling bonus points.

However, Durham wrapped up an outright victory early on the final afternoon when Steve Harmison dismissed Mark Ealham to officially confirm their victory and status as champions.

Durham originally won the toss and elected to bat first, and racked up a record first-class score of 648 for five declared as Michael di Venuto plundered 219.

In reply Nottinghamshire mustered 384 from their first innings, with Liam Plunkett (6-85) and Mark Davies (4-87) sharing the wickets.

Having then been asked to follow on, the visitors could only make their way to 212 all out in the final session on day four to hand Durham their second consecutive four-day title.