Durham's Thorp and Williams celebrate

Durham have won promotion to County Championship Division One after a draw against Northamptonshire.

Northamptonshire needed to win and rely on Durham not picking up more than seven points in order to ensure the promotion race went to the final round.

After resuming on 171-6, Durham were eventualy bowled out for 276, with Gareth Breeze making 78.

The visitors declared at 101-7 looking for the win, but then bad light came to Durham's rescue with the side on 38-2.

The visitors agreed to an abandonment of the match with the weather showing little sign of improving.

Every player deserves praise for the hard work they have put in Durham head coach Martyn Moxon

Durham head coach Martyn Moxon was overjoyed after his side won promotion for the first time.

"It is fantastic for this club that we have achieved promotion and it is what we have worked hard for all year," he said.

"Every player deserves praise for the hard work they have put in and every one of them has put their hand up at some point during the season."

After declaring on 414-7, the Northamptonshire side appeared to lose the will to win after failing by five runs to enforce the follow-on.

Finally... and after doing it the hard way, Durham are going up! From Christine Have your say on TMS

Liam Plunkett and Breese had put on 94 before Steven Crook removed Plunkett's middle stump with his fifth ball.

After the wickets of Callum Thorp and Neil Killeen fell, Durham still needed 41 with one wicket left.

But then Australian Brad Williams and Breeze stood firm to help the North-East side save the follow-on.

Damien Wright finished with 5-79 and Crook 3-54.

After lunch, the visitors went for their shots and were 55-2 in the 12th over before a collapse saw four wickets go down for one run.

Thorp picked up two as did Plunkett, who took his tally to 51 in the championship this season.

Northamptonshire returned after a rain delay to bat for five overs, eventually declaring at 101-7.

The visitors got a brief glimmer of glory when Wright bowled Jimmy Maher with the sixth ball of Durham's second innings.

And despite also picking up Paul Collingwood for 28, the umpires took the players back inside after discussing the light.

Despite Durham's achievement, Moxon refused to let his side celebrate wildly, with a key clash against Somerset on Sunday offering promotion in the Totesport League too.

"The guys will enjoy the moment but we won't get too carried away," he said.

"We have a crucial match against Somerset Sabres where a win will guarantee us promotion. The guys will prepare properly for this match."