Durham seal Division One return as trio maintain chase for County Championship crown
Durham clinched promotion to Division One of the Rothesay County Championship with a 93-run victory over Middlesex at Chester-le-Street.
The north-east side began the final day needing eight wickets and Kasey Aldridge struck with the first ball to set the tone.
Despite a battling unbeaten ton from Harry Duke alongside Ben Geddes’ half-century, Durham took control with the ball as Callum Parkinson finished with four wickets for 45 runs and Brydon Carse also claimed four to secure their spot back in the top flight next year.
Elsewhere in Division Two, Gloucestershire secured a 105-run win over Lancashire, with JT Langridge putting in an impressive performance with the ball.
The bowler struck early to remove both George Balderson and Noman Ali before Sai Kishore claimed Mitchell Stanley’s wicket.
Langridge – on loan from Somerset – secured victory for Gloucestershire and completed a five-wicket haul by dismissing Rocky Flintoff for 65.
Hampshire remain under pressure in Division One following a 54-run defeat to Nottinghamshire.
Olly Stone took six wickets for 28 runs to keep Notts in the race for the title, but Hampshire remain at the foot of the standings with two more games to go.
The chase for the County Championship crown looks set to go to the wire after Warwickshire and Somerset completed wins over Glamorgan and Leicestershire respectively.
Somerset have never won the title but face tough games against Yorkshire and Surrey to close the season.
PA
