Maher inspires Durham victory

Jimmy Maher © Getty Images

An unbroken stand of 134 between left-handers Jimmy Maher and Ben Harmison steered Durham to a seven-wicket win against Warwickshire at Chester-le-Street.

Durham began their pursuit of 195 to win by losing two wickets with the total on seven, but Maher finished on 101 and Harmison on 61.

The hosts’ fourth win of the season stemmed their slide towards relegation after losing three of their previous four games, while the abrupt halt to Warwickshire’s run of three wins virtually ended their title hopes.

Neil Killeen took five of Warwickshire’s remaining six wickets in the morning after Jonathan Trott and Alex Loudon plundered 38 from the first five overs, bowled by Mick Lewis and Graham Onions.

Loudon hit four fours in Lewis’ opening over on the way to his first half-century for 13 innings, and Trott was happy to play second fiddle after reaching 49 out of 65 overnight.

He completed a 60-ball half-century with an edged four off Onions, but fell for 69 when Killeen moved one away off the pitch to find the edge on the way to first slip.

Warwickshire had recovered from 25 for four through the stand of 96 in 17 overs, but their last six wickets went down for 43 runs.

Killeen, playing only because Ottis Gibson has had a groin operation, removed Dougie Brown in identical fashion to Trott, then Callum Thorp moved one in to hit Heath Streak’s off stump.

The Warwickshire captain was again unable to bowl because of a back problem suffered in Wednesday’s warm-up, and his absence handicapped his side on a pitch offering some seam movement.

Loudon, playing to leg, fell lbw for 55 to Killeen, who finished with 5-29, his best figures for three years.

With time for four overs before lunch Durham lost two wickets to successive balls from Lee Daggett in the second over.

Gary Scott was lbw when well forward then Gordon Muchall looked astonished to be given out caught behind first ball.

But with skipper Dale Benkenstein pulling Brown for six, Durham took 54 off the first eight overs after lunch before left-arm spinner Paul Harris came on.

But after his six-wicket haul in the first innings, he found the left-handers able to play him fairly comfortably after Benkenstein edged a forcing back-foot shot off Brown to fall for 31.

Maher often swept Harris with the spin, but also cut him when he dropped short and Warwickshire looked increasingly powerless.

The 6ft 5in Harmison used his reach to good effect and timed the ball superbly in hitting 13 fours, only one fewer than Maher.

The Queensland captain worked the ball around much as he had when scoring three C&G centuries and accumulated steadily in his 126-ball knock.