DURHAM'S Barry McCarthy last night looked forward to the chance to play Test cricket for Ireland after helping Durham to their first championship win of the season.

The 24-year-old seam bowling all-rounder, whose sister Louise plays for Ireland Women, has appeared in 13 one-day and two Twenty20 internationals.

“It's good news all round with Ireland getting Test status and Durham winning,” he said. “I got an email from Ireland's Director of Cricket telling me the news. A lot of people have worked hard to get us to this situation.”

Durham expect to be without McCarthy when Ireland play a four-day match against the Netherlands in August, but should be able to call on some bowlers whose injuries created the chance which McCarthy has seized.

Following his six-wicket haul in the first innings at Canterbury he took four for 65 in Glamorgan's second innings yesterday after contributing an unbeaten 30 to Durham's crucial last-wicket stand of 68 the previous day.

With Paul Coughlin off the field with a knee problem yesterday, McCarthy bowled a long spell and said: “It was hurting. But when you have a chance of a five-for and to get the team into a winning position you will bowl all day.

“We had a different mentality to Glamorgan. There was quite a bit in the pitch, but our batsmen went out and played attacking cricket.

“Lukas Carey got after me after I had a word with him, which backfired on me. But it's good to get involved in a bit of confrontation. It got me going a bit and I always felt a few more wickets were just around the corner.”

Durham coach Jon Lewis said: “The win will do our confidence the world of good. It wasn't that we hadn't deserved a win. We play proper four-day cricket and in the last two games we have played consistently to a high standard.

“We dominated at Canterbury and in this game our bowling as a group was our best of the season. Matty Potts was outstanding at Canterbury and again here.

“There has to be some common sense about how much we play him. He hasn't even played that much second team cricket, so it's a big leap, but he has handled it incredibly well and impressed everybody.”

Durham will have Ben Stokes and Mark Wood available for the day-night match starting on Monday at home to Worcestershire, who knocked off 399 yesterday to beat promotion rivals Kent by four wickets.

Lewis added: “We haven't heard of any limitations on how much Ben can bowl. Knowing him, he'll bowl as much as he wants to.”