Borthwick boosts Durham hopes

Durham have given themselves the opportunity of claiming their first County Championship win of the season after their seamers led a fightback on the second day against Sussex at Arundel.

After a half-century from Scott Borthwick had helped them to 231 and only their ninth batting bonus point of the season. They then reduced Sussex to 59 for 3 when Calum Thorp claimed two wickets in 12 balls. But Mike Yardy and Murray Goodwin used all their experience to steady Sussex who closed on 100 for 3.

A subtle shift in the contest came after an unlikely ninth-wicket stand between Borthwick and Mitch Claydon of 55 in 10 overs. Borthwick, who was named in England's provisional squad for the World Twenty20 on Wednesday, scored his first Championship half-century of the season off 68 balls with eight fours and timed his strokes well on a two-paced surface.

Chris Nash, bowling his occasional off-breaks, made the breakthrough when Borthwick was leg before playing back and Claydon followed three balls later for 15.

A combination of accurate Sussex bowling and a sluggish pitch meant Durham's run rate never climbed above three an over with Steve Magoffin the outstanding bowler on show with 3 for 28 from 22 overs, including nine maidens. He struck in the fifth over of the day when Durham captain Paul Collingwood was caught behind nibbling at a ball which left him but Phil Mustard joined Dale Benkenstein in a stand of 60 in 26 overs which frustrated the Sussex attack.

Monty Panesar broke the partnership just before lunch when Mustard clipped the ball into the hands of short leg and shortly after the resumption Benkenstein's 200 minute vigil ended on 43 when he mis-timed a pull at Magoffin and was caught at mid-wicket. That made Durham 170 for 7 and they added just five runs before Luke Wright returned to the attack and immediately had Thorp taken at extra cover off a mis-timed drive.

However, Sussex's hopes of wrapping up the innings quickly were frustrated in particular by Borthwick who eased to his first Championship half-century of the season with six boundaries. Chris Rushworth, making only his third Championship appearance of the season, began with four maidens and also picked up the wicket of Nash who was leg-before to a ball that nipped back.

Thorp then struck twice after tea, defeating Joe Gatting's push before producing a beauty which left Luke Wells off the pitch and clipped his off stump after the left-hander had struck seven fours in his 41.