CHRIS Rushworth’s remarkable 15-wicket haul propelled Durham to a third successive championship win yesterday and lifted them, however briefly, to fourth in the table.

After the first day’s washout, victory by an innings and 219 runs at home to Northamptonshire was effectively sealed in a day and a half.

Rushworth’s nine for 52 in the first innings were the second best figures in Durham’s first-class history after Ottis Gibson’s ten for 47 against Hampshire in 2007.

Melvyn Betts took nine for 64 at Northampton in 1997 and the only other nine-wicket haul was by Graham Onions at Trent Bridge two years ago, when he ran out the other man.

Rushworth’s previous best was six for 58 at home to Somerset in the first match of last season. He is usually at his most dangerous on early season pitches but the overcast conditions suited him yesterday as he took the first eight at a cost of 36 runs in ten overs either side of lunch.

He conceded 13 runs off his ninth then Ben Stokes had Maurice Chambers caught at second slip by Scott Borthwick.

Last man Mohammad Azharullah slogged at nearly every ball, skying a catch to mid-off, where Mark Stoneman held his second catch after also accepting a careless drive by Neil Wagner.

Of Rushworth’s seven other first innings scalps, two were bowled, one was lbw and the others fell to edged catches.

He has often bowled equally well this season without luck and began this match with 43 championship wickets. The ball which took him to 50 sent Rob Keogh’s off stump flying.

During an opening stand of 33 the greater threat appeared to come from Indian paceman Varun Aaron, making his Durham debut.

He often beat the beat and when he did find the edge the ball dropped just short of Paul Collingwood at first slip.

There was a brief moment when it seemed Durham had signed someone too fast for the darkening days of mid-September as the umpires consulted their light meter after he sent one past James Kettleborough’s chin.

Rushworth made the breakthrough in the ninth over when he had James Middlebrook caught at second slip. In his next two overs he had Kyle Coetzer taken at fourth slip and nipped one back to have Kettleborough lbw.

He struck twice in his first over after lunch and the procession continued in the second innings, when Stokes struck first by having Kettleborough caught at first slip.

Rushworth took the next six and at that point he had six for 27 in 6.1 overs but Adam Rossington’s slogging produced a six over cover and two lofted fours down the ground to leave him with six for 43.

The reckless batting continued and Irishman Peter Chase profited with two of the last three wickets, while Aaron took his only one when Maurice Chambers edged via his pad to second slip.

In the morning the start was delayed by 35 minutes because of poor light and Durham failed by eight runs to pick up the fifth batting point when they were all out for 392.

Overnight pair Calum MacLeod and Aaron were obviously in a hurry to get the total up from 362 to 400.

But on 390 Aaron departed for 13 when he edged a drive to slip to give New Zealand left-armer Neil Wagner his fifth wicket.

MacLeod continued to strike the ball firmly but couldn’t beat the fielders posted round the boundary and took only two singles in his efforts to keep Chase off strike.

The Scot, who has sent a postal vote for today’s referendum, was finally bowled for 36 when trying to cut a straight one from Azharullah.

However he cast his vote, MacLeod will be hoping to strengthen his bond with Durham at Lord’s on Saturday.

Durham v Northamptonshire

At Emirates Durham ICG.
Overnight: Durham 362-8 (S G
Borthwick 136, P D Collingwood 101;
NWagner 4-95).

Durham First Innings
C S MacLeod b Azharullah ..................36
V R Aaron c Middlebrook b Wagner.. 13
P K Chase not out.................................... 0
Extras (b9 lb11 w1 nb13) ..34
Total (92.1 overs) .............. 392
Fall: 1-1 2-41 3-91 4-110 5-297 6-321
7-332 8-350 9-390
Bowling: Wagner 20-2-104-5. Azharullah
27.1-4-95-4. Chambers 16-2-72-0. Hall
17-4-68-1. Middlebrook 7-2-22-0. K J
Coetzer 5-0-11-0.

Northamptonshire First Innings
J M Kettleborough lbw b Rushworth.. 11
J Middlebrook c Borthwick
b Rushworth ............................................23
K J Coetzer c Stokes b Rushworth ...... 4
R I Keogh b Rushworth......................... 17
A M Rossington c Richardson
b Rushworth .............................................. 9
R I Newton lbw b Rushworth................. 0
B M Duckett b Rushworth...................... 0
A J Hall not out........................................ 13
N Wagner c b Rushworth....................... 0
M Chambers c Borthwick b Stokes ..... 4
Azharullah c St’man b Rushworth ....... 2
Extras ...................................... 0
Total (23 overs) ....................83
Fall: 1-33 2-37 3-48 4-62 5-62 6-64 7-65
8-65 9-80
Bowling: Rushworth 12-2-52-9. Aaron
6-2-24-0. Stokes 5-1-7-1.

Northamptonshire Second Innings
J M Kettleborough c Collingwood
b Stokes ................................................... 14
J D Middlebrook b Rushworth............... 3
K Coetzer c Borthwick b Rushworth ... 1
R I Keogh lbw b Rushworth ................... 7
A Rossington c Stoneman b Chase...22
R Newton c Richardson b Rushworth..... 0
B Duckett c Borthwick b Rushworth . 13
A J Hall b Rushworth............................... 7
N Wagner c Stoneman b Chase......... 16
M Chambers c Borthwick b Aaron....... 0
Azharullah not out ................................... 0
Extras (b1 lb6 pens 0).......... 7
Total (17.2 overs) .................90
Fall: 1-15 2-18 3-21 4-30 5-30 6-46 7-58
8-78 9-90
Bowling: Rushworth 8-1-43-6. Stokes
7-1-29-1. Chase 1.2-0-8-2. Aaron 1-0-3-
1.

Durham (23pts) beat Northamptonshire (3pts) by an innings and 219 runs