Onions inspires Durham rout

Graham Onions' figures of 7-38 inspired Durham to a comprehensive 10-wicket victory over Warwickshire at Edgbaston

Graham Onions took seven wickets and became the first bowler to record 50 dismissals this season as Durham went to the top of the Division One in the LV= County Championship after trouncing Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

The champions forced the home side to follow on 157 behind and then bowled them out for 177 before making 21 without loss to wrap up a third successive win by 10 wickets with four overs to spare.

The superior firepower of Onions and Steve Harmison, who shared 16 wickets in the match, overwhelmed Warwickshire as Ashley Giles suffered his first defeat in 21 championship matches since becoming director of cricket last season.

Onions bowled a relentless line in taking 7-38 - his fifth return of five or more this summer - and Harmison (2-59) moved up to 22 wickets in his last three championship outings.

Facing two England fast bowlers on a last-day surface was more than the hosts could handle as Durham won at Edgbaston for the first time in eight games since their admission to the championship in 1992.

Ian Bell completed his third consecutive half-century but for the second day in succession Warwickshire caved in as soon as the England batsman departed. Bell has now scored 477 runs in eight championship innings at an average of 79.50.

Durham achieved their first objective when Onions ended Warwickshire’s first innings by bowling last man Boyd Rankin after a stubborn stand with Ant Botha (29 not out).

Onions then removed Tony Frost with a catch behind the wicket for the first success when Wawrickshire batted again.

Spin also came into the equation when Ian Westwood turned a bat-pad chance to short leg in Ian Blackwell’s third over.

However, any thoughts of a Durham dash to an early victory were cut short when Bell imposed his quality with seven well-timed boundaries in a third-wicket partnership of 72 with Jonathan Trott (32).

It was a surprise when Bell went for 57 - dragging a ball from Onions on to his middle stump - and the cost was high as the paceman took 3-4 in 12 deliveries. Trott’s deflection to third slip gave the bowler the 200th first-class wicket of his career and Jim Troughton again looked out of touch up to his lbw dismissal.

Harmison bowled two spells without reward - nine overs in all for 32 runs - but duly made an impact on his re-appearance.

Tim Ambrose pushed a low catch to third slip and Neil Carter, after hitting three consecutive boundaries in reaching 23, speared another short ball to third man.

Relentless pressure was maintained when Onions replaced Harmison and cleaned out the last three wickets, leaving Botha, on 34, unbeaten for the second time in the day, leaving Will Smith and Michael Di Venuto to chase down the small target.