Durham coasted to a six-wicket victory against LV= County Championship Division One leaders Sussex at the Emirates Durham ICG, led by Scott Borthwick who passed up the chance of a century and was unbeaten on 97.
With a game in hand, they are now only five points behind the visitors, who had also won their first two matches.
Borthwick, who was 24 last week, played like a seasoned pro as he followed knocks of 94 and 51 not out at Taunton by making light of what threatened to be a tricky task when Durham resumed with 147 needed and eight wickets standing to chase a score of 262.
The match-winner said: “The captain [Paul Collingwood] asked me if I wanted to get my century when I was on 89 and we needed 11, but I said there was no point in messing around. I'm just happy to get a good win.”
The difference between the teams proved to be the greater depth of the Durham attack as Ajmal Shahzad ploughed a lone furrow, claiming all four wickets to go with his four in the first innings and take his season's tally to 22 in three games.
THERE IT IS! Consecutive boundaries from @Borthwick16 (97*) wraps up a superb six wicket win over Sussex. @Colly622 made 35*. #DURvSUS
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) April 29, 2015
Oliver Robinson could hardly be expected to sustain his dream debut, and although he beat Borthwick three times in one over the left-hander responded by hitting him for three fours in his next.
When Michael Richardson lost his leg stump to Shahzad in the day's fourth over the contest was still in the balance.
Calum MacLeod, originally signed as a Twenty20 specialist last year, took 25 balls to get off the mark.
He succeeded in seeing off the dangerous Shahzad and opened his account by driving Matt Hobden to the cover boundary.
On seven he edged Hobden past Ed Joyce's left ear at first slip and went on to make 26 before attempting an upper cut, which flew straight to third man.
Collingwood joined Borthwick for the final 10 minutes before lunch and made light of knocking off the remaining runs, scoring 35 not out off 44 balls.
Media duties - @Borthwick16 reflects on an excellent win #DURvSUS pic.twitter.com/tvCHH8Kl0o
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) April 29, 2015
Borthwick hit two fours off the first two balls of a Robinson over to complete the task, leaving Robinson with 0-76 in 14.2 overs.
Borthwick added: “It was the sort of pitch where you never really felt in. We knew we didn't need to score quickly but felt if we could get through the first hour it would get a bit easier.
“I was also there at the end when we won at Taunton. It's a good feeling – you feel like you've earned a beer.”
Meanwhile, Sussex professional cricket manager Mark Robinson said: "We had two great opportunities to get in a winning position, but John Hastings took the first one away from us with the bat. Then Rushworth made sure we fell a bit short in our second innings after a good start.
“We fought hard and came up a bit short, but we are missing a few bodies and I'm pleased with what we have done here. It's a tricky place to come.”
LISTEN: Mark Robinson speaks to @AdrianHarms of @BBCSussexSport following the defeat to Durham earlier today https://t.co/WtDrTsFaFg#GOSBTS
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) April 29, 2015