Durham safe, Middlesex edgy

There is not too great a difference between Durham and Yorkshire. Both counties have supporters fiercely proud of their corner of Britain, both have a good record of producing home-grown players, both have had financial problems related to staging international cricket and both have been strong performers in recent years.

It will not quite be a Championship one-two this season but that Durham could now finish as high as fourth, after closing out a crushing win over Middlesex - just their second ever Championship success at Lord's - having entered this round in a relegation scrap, highlights that they have not been light years behind their neighbours.

Durham have actually batted better than last season when none of their batsman averaged over 40. Yorkshire have produced largely similar numbers to 2013, with Adam Lyth replacing Gary Ballance as the standout performer. The difference has been the potency of the respective bowling attacks. Last season Durham were spearheaded by Graham Onions' 70 wickets; Yorkshire have had Jack Brooks' 64 this time. But despite Chris Rushworth's best efforts, Onions' has not been replaced with injury limiting him to just five matches. Losing three other bowlers who were key components of last season's Championship win has also hindered Durham's defence.

Another major difference has been the spin threat. Yorkshire's legspinner, Adil Rashid, has taken 40 wickets at 25.75, whereas Scott Borthwick has only managed 13 at 54.53. Durham have relied on their healthy stock of seam bowlers - Peter Chase was registered only three weeks ago and added four wickets in this game after his match-winning five-for against Nottinghamshire last week.

With his second ball on the final morning Chase trapped John Simpson lbw and had Toby Roland-Jones caught behind after lunch when he again had threatened to frustrate Durham by adding a run-a-ball half-century stand with Ollie Rayner.

Durham and Yorkshire also share popular men of their shire as captain. Paul Collingwood produced handy interventions in all four innings of this match. On the final day it was to remove Paul Stirling with his ninth ball, driving via a thin inside edge into his off stump. Then with the final ball before lunch, first innings mainstay Dawid Malan was trapped lbw to remove Middlesex's final hope before the interval.

It capped a terrible morning for the hosts who began the day only one down. Sam Robson, having played so positively on the third evening, drove the second ball of the day for four only to fall lbw next delivery. Scores of 15 and 38 were not the response Robson would have hoped for after not been offered any type of ECB contract.

Both Eoin Morgan - edging behind as Rushworth came around the wicket - and Neil Dexter - bowled driving a delivery that was not full enough for the stroke - failed to offer any resistance. The lower order did briefly, including some frustrated swinging from Tim Murtagh, to prevent a complete embarrassment but it was still a crushing loss and a third defeat in six matches.

These are worrying times for Middlesex. They have a soft underbelly that teams have seized upon to inflict now five defeats this season. Their batting order has suffered numerous miserable collapses: 8 for 33 against Sussex; 8 for 66 and 7 for 64 against Warwickshire; 6 for 38 against Yorkshire. When they are down they have a very unhealthy habit of rolling over.

Yet their batting statistics compare favourably to the top sides in the division: of those to have played eight matches or more, five Middlesex batsmen average over 40. Yorkshire have only one more, Nottinghamshire one fewer, Warwickshire just one.

With a battery of fine seam bowlers and a batting line up led by two prolific openers, Middlesex were supposed to be title challengers. Three successive home wins from their opening five matches set their season up. But a fourth win, on May 21, has been followed by a lean run of three defeats and five draws. The run has drawn them into a relegation scrap.

Their bowling attack has actually lacked depth, with their inability to kill sides off highlighted when Northamptonshire were 168 for 6, over 300 behind, at Lord's at the end of June, only for a century from No. 8 to rescue the innings and Middlesex were forced to concede a draw.

Losing Gareth Berg to shoulder surgery after just one innings of bowling this season has not helped but he only took 25 wickets at 37.68 in the Championship last season - not stats that would have transformed Middlesex in 2014.

Middlesex are fortunate to have a game in hand on Lancashire - at Somerset next week, who have only a few grand of prize money to play for. A win would see Middlesex survive but Taunton is not your venue of choice to force a victory. Lancashire host Middlesex in the final round of the season at Old Trafford. It could become a relegation shootout.