Surrey edged closer to a third successive Vitality County Championship title with a 10-wicket win over Durham at Kia Oval with a day to spare.
Durham, who started Day 3 trailing by 152 runs, never recovered after losing two wickets to Dan Worrall in the first over.
Worrall and Sam Curran, making their second Championship appearance of the season, took four wickets each as Durham were run out for 177 in the second innings, with only Emilio Gay (48) providing long-term resistance.
Surrey needed just 25 runs to complete their eighth win of the campaign and captain Rory Burns and Dom Sibley got the target in just five overs. It was their sixth win at Kia Oval this season, with only Somerset, who drew in April, preventing a clean sweep on home turf.
Rory Burns (left) and Ryan Patel celebrate Surrey’s convincing win.
Surrey move one step closer to County Championship title
The tempo was set in the first over when Worrall made a double breakthrough. Dan Hogg was struck leg-off, Ben McKinney was hit by a fine delivery and Durham lost three wickets in the first half-hour when Jordan Clark bowled Alex Lees.
David Bedingham was lbw after only half-forwarding Curran’s sixth ball and Ollie Robinson also lost his off stump after being caught in the back of the inswing, leaving Durham’s innings in disarray at 74-6.
Gay, who made his Durham debut before making his permanent move from Northamptonshire this winter, looked in fine form and added 46 points either side of lunchtime with Bas De Leede to give Durham hope. Worrall returned to the pavilion end to remove Gay before Curran’s inswinger cleared De Leede.
Tom Ross played a superb ball that sent James Minto racing past goalkeeper Ben Fawkes, before Curran finished off the game with another powerful effort that was too good for Chemar Holder before Surrey eased into the small goal.
tumble Had to beat relegation rivals Lancashire They finished the third day at Old Trafford with their faint title hopes alive but still fell 189 points short of victory.
Archie Vaughan, who had set 393 runs to win, hit his maiden first-team half-century with 68, Tom Rammenby made 49 in a superb second-wicket partnership, while George Balderson and Luke Wells took two wickets apiece to send Somerset 204-6 ahead at stumps.
Wicketkeeper-batsman James Liu remained unbeaten on 24 runs and Somerset will be hoping to bounce back in the morning and continue their title bid until the final over.
Surrey have picked up 23 points to move to 221, 31 ahead of Somerset with their game at Old Trafford still to be completed. Surrey face Essex at Chelmsford in the final round, while Somerset host Hampshire.
Elsewhere, Kent Relegation to the second division was confirmed after a 10-wicket defeat at home. Nottinghamshire. The home team were bowled out for 230 in their second innings, leaving Nottinghamshire needing just 23 runs to win, and they won by 21 runs.
Sussex After a quick innings win over Gloucestershire in Bristol, they secured promotion from Division Two of the Vitality County Championship with one game to spare.
Gloucestershire were sacked for 195, and Sussex finished the home side in less than a session on day three. Left-arm seamer Jadev Unadkat took 3-39 with match figures of 7-71, while Henry Crockham took 4-22 as Sussex secured an innings and seven-run victory.
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