Durham sustain promotion push with win over Sussex

Durham moved level on points with Worcestershire at the top of the Norwich Union League second division when they beat Sussex by seven wickets at Chester-le-Street.

Mark Davies, a 20-year-old seamer who has yet to make his first-class debut, took all the wickets as Sussex slumped to 24 for four after choosing to bat on a greenish pitch.

They were all out for 144 with three balls unused, then Martin Love made 75 not out, his highest one-day score for Durham, to see them home with 11 overs to spare.

Davies, bowling the second over, began with two wides, one of which went for four. His third ball might also have been a wide had Murray Goodwin not touched it to the wicketkeeper to give Andrew Pratt the first of his five victims.

Moving the ball into the right-handers, Davies bowled six wides in all but conceded only four singles off the bat in taking four for 13 in seven overs.

Opener Richard Montgomerie had to settle for rebuilding the innings and hit only two fours in making 47 before he was seventh out in the 40th over.

Will House contributed 30 to a stand of 58 and three of the eight boundaries scored in the innings were struck by Matthew Prior in his 25.

Durham looked vulnerable at 37 for two but Paul Collingwood and Love put on 133 in 23 overs before Collingwood fell for 34, chipping to midwicket with only five needed.

Love, who had made only two previous one-day half centuries for Durham, stroked 13 fours in his 97-ball innings.