Worcestershire relegated as Borthwick stars again

Worcestershire's relegation was confirmed by a three-wicket defeat in their LV= County Championship match against Durham at Chester-le-Street.

The need to win, coupled with the fact that a day was lost to rain in a match they had dominated, forced Worcestershire's hand in setting a target of 291 in 71 overs.

Led by 99 from Scott Borthwick and an unbeaten 65 by Michael Richardson, Durham ended their season by easing home with 4.2 overs to spare. Their seventh win ended a run of six defeats and a draw and ensured they cannot finish below fifth.

In the morning Worcestershire added 175 runs in 25 overs, Ross Whiteley thrashing 47 off 21 balls, as they aimed for a lunchtime declaration. They called a halt four minutes before the scheduled break when the ninth wicket went down on 217.

A brisk start was ended when Durham's Chris Rushworth took his 100th wicket of the season in county cricket, of which 83 have come in the Championship.

He ended an opening stand of 68 when he bowled Daryl Mitchell for 21 then Graham Onions nipped a couple back to bowl Brett D'Oliveira for 49 and Joe Clarke for a second ball duck.

But the last over of Onions' nine-over spell went for 16, sparking a spree which brought 88 off the last eight overs. Whiteley picked up Jamie Harrison behind square for six and Tom Kohler-Cadmore cleared the rope off Ryan Pringle before holing out at deep mid-wicket for 38.

Ben Cox scored his six runs in one blow off Borthwick before falling lbw to the leg-spinner attempting a reverse sweep. Whiteley drove to long-off and Pringle picked up a third wicket when Ed Barnard was lbw for 17, prompting the declaration.

After going wicketless in the first innings, West Indian paceman Shannon Gabriel gave Worcestershire hope when he had Jack Burnham lbw with his sixth ball. He also had Paul Collingwood caught behind off an edged drive for 46, but the Durham captain's third-wicket stand of 104 with Borthwick had put his side well on the way.

Having made ten previous half-centuries this season, Borthwick's only conversion to three figures had come in making 103 at Worcester in June. This was the third time he had fallen in the 90s and he could blame low bounce as he was lbw trying to pull D'Oliveira. But he had a fine match, top scoring as well in the first innings.

Richardson joined Collingwood with 108 needed off 27 overs and appeared to relish the situation. He was not afraid to get down the pitch and drive D'Oliveira between extra cover and mid-off or to rock back and pull Gabriel.

Richardson remained unflappable after Collingwood's exit, despite seeing three more batsmen depart in fading light. A good ball by Ed Barnard had Gordon Muchall caught behind, Pringle drove Joe Leach to mid-on and D'Oliveira had Harrison lbw.

Irishman Barry McCarthy joined Richardson with 25 needed off ten overs and immediately lifted D'Oliveira for two fours in his 12 not out.

Defeat was tough on Worcestershire. There was enough evidence of talent among their young players to suggest they will come back all the stronger. But they didn't have the bowling resources to find life in a placid pitch.