Sussex scrape home thanks to Magoffin

Steve Magoffin proved the match-winner for Sussex in a gripping climax to their match against Durham at Arundel. The Australian fast bowler took 6 for 22 as Durham were dismissed for 93 in their second innings, then scored 23 not out to see his side to a two-wicket win.

Needing 94, Sussex looked doomed when Magoffin went to the crease at 50 for 7, but Kirk Wernars helped him put on 23 then he and James Anyon knocked off the remaining runs.

Durham were almost entirely dependent on their two swing and seam bowlers, Callum Thorp and Chris Rushworth, who had taken four wickets each in the first innings. They shared seven second time around, while home captain Mike Yardy was run out, but once they began to tire the balance tipped back in Sussex's favour.

With 11 runs needed Paul Collingwood gambled by bringing on Ben Stokes in place of Rushworth, who had bowled 15 overs. But eight runs came off the over and Anyon was able to pick off the three remaining runs against Thorp, who finished with 4 for 38 in 17 overs.

Sussex's third win of the season kept them in the top half of the table while defeat left Durham even further adrift at the bottom, still looking for their first win.

After the sides finished level on 231 in the first innings, Durham began the day on 80 for 7 and were all out for 93. Collingwood failed to add to his 29, falling in the first over to Kirk Wernars when he became one of the game's 15 lbw victims. Magoffin did the rest, pinning Thorp lbw before taking out Mitch Claydon's middle stump.

Rushworth had Luke Wells lbw with the sixth ball of the Sussex innings then Joe Gatting was well caught by Scott Borthwick at second slip off Thorp, who also bowled Chris Nash. It became 27 for 4 when Yardy pushed the ball to midwicket and set off for a risky run, which Murray Goodwin declined.

When Rushworth brought one sharply back to rock Luke Wright's off stump Durham were favourites. After lunch Ben Brown was adjudged lbw when well forward to Rushworth and Goodwin nicked a ball on to his pad and was caught at slip.

Phil Mustard, standing up to Thorp, took a brilliant leg-side catch to end Wernars' resistance, but by that time Magoffin had stolen the initiative by running Thorp to the vacant third man boundary then cutting him for four. Those two shots eased the pressure and Collingwood's overnight prediction that Durham would need a lead of 120 proved accurate.