Highlights from day four
Paceman Chris Rushworth led the way with 3-74 as Durham completed an impressive 141-run victory against Middlesex at Lord's to make sure of their place in Division One of the LV= County Championship.
However, defeat for Middlesex - dismissed in their second innings for 254 - means they have been dragged into a relegation scrap with Lancashire, whom they play at Emirates Old Trafford in the last match of the season later this month.
Durham's win, their fourth of the season, was fully deserved for two reasons.
The visitors twice fought back from poor starts with the bat to post decent totals, while their seam attack, led by 28-year-old Rushworth, was consistently more dangerous than Middlesex's - with the honourable exception of Tim Murtagh, who took 10-192 in the match.
If injuries had not afflicted them so much this season, notably to Graham Onions, Durham might well have defended their championship title more strongly. As it is, this win means they could even push to finish fourth, with games against last-placed Northamptonshire and Warwickshire still to play.
Much was expected of Sam Robson, who resumed on 34 not out on a final day which began with Middlesex, in theory chasing 396 to win, at 44 for one.
LISTEN: Managing Director of Cricket Angus Fraser reflects on the defeat by Durham in the #LVCC... https://t.co/eSaRPUEcmG#Middlesex150
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) September 12, 2014
Left off England's central contract list for the next 12 months, opener Robson had the perfect opportunity to show the selectors that he was worthy of more after playing in all seven Test matches this summer.
In a chastening first over of the day, however, Robson was beaten by Rushworth's opening delivery and went lbw to the fifth ball, while in between punching an on-drive for four to reach 38.
However, his dismissal was the start of a wretched morning for Middlesex, who lost six wickets in the session and were already down and out at 139 for seven at lunch.
Since making 59 in the first Test against India, in early July, Robson has now scored only 171 runs in nine first-class innings, with this 38 his top score.
Durham captain Paul Collingwood, who brought himself into the attack as the fifth seamer used in the first session, struck in his second and third overs to send back Paul Stirling and Dawid Malan, the last of Middlesex's recognised batsmen and their best hopes of surviving for a draw.
Peter Chase, a 20-year-old Irish seamer playing only his second first-class match, had earlier trapped John Simpson lbw for eight with his second ball, as everything Collingwood did as captain in the last hour before lunch seemed to come off.
The result was a Middlesex collapse from 79 for two, with Eoin Morgan following Robson back into the dressing room after a stand of 31 with Malan when he was caught at the wicket for 21 off Rushworth, who Collingwood had just switched to the Pavilion End following his fine first-up spell from the Nursery End.
Congratulations to @johnhastings194 - you've been a legend for @DurhamCricket this year. Safe travels pic.twitter.com/gzSUgBMch9
— Nigel Kent (@silverfox1967) September 12, 2014
Neil Dexter, having got off the mark with a lovely back-foot force through cover for four off Rushworth, was bowled later in the same over as the bowler nipped a delivery back off the seam to pluck out his off stump.
Left-hander Simpson's departure, beaten by Chase's movement back into him from around the wicket, was followed by Collingwood's double-strike.
Stirling, on 15, was bowled by a beauty that clipped the top of off stump as he pushed forward and Malan had just driven Collingwood handsomely through extra-cover for his seventh four when, next ball, he was beaten and pinned lbw on the stroke of lunch.
In the afternoon session there was at least some lower order Middlesex resistance, starting with an eighth-wicket stand worth 61 in 10 overs between Ollie Rayner and Toby Roland-Jones.
But Chase returned to see Roland-Jones, who hit 26 from 29 balls, edge to wicketkeeper Phil Mustard as he sparred at a rising ball and - after a further spirited stand of 32 with Murtagh - the end of Rayner's defiant 38 from 57 balls came when he lost his middle stump to a rare full delivery from Ben Stokes.
Murtagh reached 34 from 31 balls before becoming the last Middlesex wicket to fall, well-held above his head off John Hastings by Chase, back-pedalling and falling backwards, at deep mid-on.
Durham captain Collingwood said: "I am delighted with this victory. Lord's is a tough place to come, and the last time we beat Middlesex here was in 1998.
"It was a victory at the right time and under pressure, given our position in the table at the start of the game. But we played some excellent cricket, with Scott Borthwick's first-innings 176, a mature knock from Ben Stokes, who looks in good form, and all our bowlers performing with the ball.
"We want to finish the season on a high, and we have the opportunity to do something special in the Royal London One-Day Cup final at Lord's in a week or so as well as finishing strongly in the championship in our last two games."