Rashid the unlikely hero as Sussex sustain form with win over Durham

Sussex had 5.5 overs to spare when they beat Durham by 133 runs at Chester-le-Street to go top of division two after winning five of their last six games.

Umer Rashid emerged as the hero, taking four for nine with his left-arm spin, including the final wicket.

Durham finished on 202 for nine, with Stephen Harmison unable to bat because of a viral infection.

Sussex batted on for four overs after lunch before declaring at the fall of their ninth wicket with the score on 253, setting Durham a target of 336 in 61 overs.

Trailing their visitors by 42 points, Durham were obliged to give it a go and had 48 on the board after seven overs on a pitch showing few signs of wear.

There was a brief lull after Jon Lewis was bowled by James Kirtley for 32, but Martin Love and Paul Collingwood took the score to 94 in the 18th over before Mark Robinson gained lbw verdicts with successive balls.

Love, who hit seven fours in making 41 off 46 balls, went only half forward then Nicky Peng departed in similar fashion.

Collingwood and Martin Speight had few problems in putting on 51 for the fifth wicket and a stalemate looked likely until Adams turned to Rashid with 26 overs left.

Collingwood inexplicably went down the pitch to his third ball, attempting a big hit to long-on, only to be bowled for 34.

Number 10 batsman Nicky Hatch survived for ten overs in partnership with Andrew Pratt, who was last out when he was caught at silly point off Rashid.

Skipper Chris Adams top scored for Sussex with 90 and Richard Montgomerie became the country's leading run scorer when he added 20 to his overnight 51.