COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP, DIVISION ONE, Riverside:
CLOSE OF PLAY, FINAL DAY: Durham 194 & 179-5 beat Worcestershire 193 and 179 by five wickets (Durham 17pts, Worcs 3pts)
30 June-3 July 2009

Michael Di Venuto cracked a century to fire leaders Durham to a fourth straight County Championship win, beating Worcestershire by five wickets.

Resuming at 64-1, with bad weather forecast, the Tasmanian wasted little time as Durham raced to their victory target on 179-5 in just 41 overs.

It was a quickfire century, coming from 123 balls, with 14 fours and one six.

Matt Mason took 3-35 for Worcestershire while Ashley Noffke and Chris Whelan claimed a wicket apiece.

With just 115 needed at the start of the day and an ominous looking weather outlook, Durham needed to set a steady pace.

And Di Venuto, already on 43 overnight, did just that for the reigning county champions.

Despite the impending defeat, Mason continued to take wickets, accounting for Gordon Muchall (14), Dale Benkenstein (17) and Ian Blackwell (3).

But Durham completed their last-day victory in just an hour and 14 minutes to leave winless Worcestershire still rooted to the foot of the table, and Durham extending their lead at the top.

Durham batsman Michael Di Venuto told BBC Look North:

"To bowl them out before the rain arrived was brilliant.

"We're playing some really good cricket in the four-day stuff. That's four wins in a row now.

"The guys are confident and playing some really good cricket."

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes told BBC Hereford & Worcester:

"The third innings was absolutely crucial in this game.

"We really needed to push 300, we failed to do that and consequently put the game for the taking for Durham.

"When you're chasing even 179 there's added pressure and unfortunately we missed a couple of chances.

"Di Venuto took full advantage and, if one guy gets a hundred out of 179, then it's a match winning innings on the last day.

"In both innings there were some loose shots. It's tough on some of the bowlers who worked very hard for their wickets and they see some of our guys giving away their wicket and that can be soul destroying. We've just got to do better."

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