COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Riverside
Durham 311 beat Hampshire 105 & 96 by an innings and 110 runs (Durham 20pts, Hampshire 3pts)

Onions ended with match figures of 9-80

England seamer Graham Onions continued his rich vein of form as Durham thrashed Hampshire by an innings and 110 runs at the Riverside.

Resuming day three on 52-4 and needing 154 to make the hosts bat again, Hampshire succumbed to Onions (6-58) to be bowled out for 96 in 34.2 overs.

Only Sean Ervine (22) provided any resistance for the visitors.

It gives defending champions Durham their first win of the season, while Hampshire slip to their first loss.

Onions began the carnage by bowling nightwatchman David Griffiths in the second over of the day.

Opener Jimmy Adams was next to go, driving Onions to mid-off to fall for a 71-ball 11, before the paceman trapped wicketkeeper Nic Pothas lbw.

Ervine took the aggressive approach, striking five fours in his 35-ball effort, but after he was hit on the helmet by Onions, he holed out to long-leg off the bowling of Callum Thorp (2-21).

Onions then picked up the wickets of Dominic Cork and Imran Tahir in successive deliveries to wrap up the match and send Durham, temporarily at least, to the top of Division One.

BBC Radio Newcastle's Martin Emmerson reviews Durham's defeat of Hampshire:

"Durham have been threatening to blow someone away in the County Championship this season and Hampshire were the recipients of the hammering today. Their players were queuing up for the team bus outside the Riverside pavilion before the dust had even settled on this one.

"They were put to the sword by Graham Onions who took 5-32 in less than an hour as Hampshire were skittled out in just 50 minutes on what turned out to be the final morning. Onions finished with 6-58 in their second innings as the visitors were dismissed for just 96 - losing by an innings and 110 runs - and effectively in two days as well.

"Onions said he was slightly disappointed to have gone for four an over but I doubt that will have even been noticed by England selector James Whittaker.

"So Durham are top for the time being and Onions has given the selectors more food for thought ahead of the Ashes.

"After all of their woes in one-day cricket this season it would appear Durham have not lost their edge so far in the four-day game and even at this early stage the championship remains their most realistic prospect of a trophy.

"The players now have an extra day off before they start their next championship match at home to Lancashire on Thursday and they deserve it."

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