COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Riverside:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Durham 473-4dec, Sussex 245 and 208-5 (Durham 8pts, Sussex 2pts)
31 July - 3 August 2009

Thorp took his first five-wicket haul of the season in Sussex's first innings

Callum Thorp claimed six wickets on day three at the Riverside as Durham took command against Sussex.

Thorp claimed a season-best 5-86 as the visitors slumped from their overnight 119-1 to 245 all out, despite 97 from captain Michael Yardy.

That gave Durham a first-innings lead of 228, and Sussex were staring defeat in the face at 115-5 following on.

But Luke Wright and Andrew Hodd shared an unbroken 93 for the sixth wicket as they closed on 208-5, still 20 behind.

Wright ended the day on 64 not out, with wicketkeeper Hodd unbeaten on 22.

That stand ended Durham's hopes of wrapping up victory inside three days.

But they will still fancy their chances of finishing Sussex off on the final day, despite Steve Harmison bowling only three and four-over spells on day three because of blisters.

Instead, that allowed Thorp to come to the fore as he rediscovered the form which saw him claim 50 championship wickets last season.

Thorp bowled both Murray Goodwin and Carl Hopkinson, before Mark Davies had Ed Joyce, who resumed after retiring hurt on day two, caught behind.

Australian Thorp also had Wright caught at midwicket without scoring and completed his five-wicket haul when Gordon Muchall caught Corey Collymore at first slip.

Yardy's resistance came to an end when he was run out three short of a century, before Ollie Rayner handed Harmison his only wicket of the day when he edged to Muchall.

Muchall took a third catch when Davies removed Yardy for 20 at a the start of Sussex's second innings.

But after Chris Nash (55) and Joyce steadied the ship, Ian Blackwell bowled the Irishman with his fourth ball to leave Sussex 71-2, before Thorp return to have both Nash and Goodwin caught behind off inside edges and Davies trapped Hopkinson lbw.

With his side up against it, Wright launched a counter-attack against Harmison and Liam Plunkett but it may not prove enough to save them from defeat.

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