SCOTT Borthwick took five wickets as Durham manoeuvred themselves into a strong position from which to record their first win in five County Championship matches at Hove this afternoon.
Bowling unchanged from the Sea End throughout the afternoon session, the 21-year-old leg-spinner recorded the first five-wicket haul of his First Class career to run through Sussex's middle order and bowl them out five short of the relatively modest target of 223 to avoid the follow-on.
Having taken a wicket in his only over before lunch, Borthwick took another in his first full over after. He owed that to a brilliant catch by first-innings centurion Mark Stoneman, who ran across from cover to extra cover to collect. It brought him the key scalp of England wicketkeeper Matt Prior, who was driving uppishly on 22.
As is often the way for wrist spinners, he took occasional punishment, Michael Yardy three times hitting him for four in the 27th over. It was a feat Yardy would repeat to Graham Onions in the 52nd over, a hat-trick of cuts taking him to an 84-ball 50 which included eight boundaries.
There was, though, little by way of support for the captain. Phil Mustard took a thin edge from his opposite number Ben Brown when the wicketkeeper drove at Borthwick having scored 26.
South African Wayne Parnell's entertaining innings was short on substance, hitting Borthwick into the long-on seats for six, then following it up with a more guileful late-cut four before the Sunderland man got his revenge in the next over, rushing one into his pads for 27.
James Anyon made two before prodding to short leg Will Smith, who took a couple of blows either side of it for his troubles. The catch brought up Borthwick's maiden five-fer. He has steadily improved throughout the county season, and it would be a major surprise if last Thursday's trip to Ireland was the last time he played for England.
Amjad Kahn was caught behind pulling at what ought to have been the last ball of the session, bowled by Onions. With nine wickets down, the interval was postponed to give Durham the chance of wrapping things up.
Onions did just that when Yardy took a big heave at him and was bowled for 66. Sussex were all out for 218, still 154 adrift. Monty Panesar did not score.
Defeat at Trent Bridge last week left Durham's title chances looking pretty thin, but there was good news waiting for them when they returned to the dressing room for their tea. League leaders Lancashire have been thrashed inside two days by relegation-threatened Worcestershire, while fourth-placed Somerset - who double up as Sunday's CB40 semi-final opponents - are having a very tough day in the field at home to bottom-of-the-table Hampshire.
For a full report of the second day's lay, see The Journal on Friday.
