Cricket: 2011 English County Championship Division One, Update

Durham extended their lead at the top of the county championship table to 23 points after a low-scoring victory against second-placed Lancashire while Warwickshire kept up their title ambitions with a win against Sussex.

Durham stay top with six wins, three draws and one defeat after a five-wicket victory against Lancashire at Liverpool.

Lancashire were put into bat by the away side and were blown away for just 84. Stephen Moore (27) and Sajid Mahmood (14) the only batsmen to make it into double-figures. Callum Thorp claimed 6-20 as Durham gained early control of the match.

In response, Durham found themselves 102-8 before Dale Benkenstein (83 not out) found some support in Graham Onions (21) and the away side reached 186.

Luke Procter's 3-39 and Mahmood's 3-50 kept Lancashire in the game.

Lancashire responded well second time around at 112-1 but a regular fall of wickets saw them dismissed for 282. Paul Horton's 64 and Procter's 52 giving the home side half a chance but Onions 4-74 keeping Durham on top.

Chasing 181 for victory, Durham slipped to 24-3 but Benkenstein (60 not out) and Ian Blackwell, who survived a massive first ball LBW shout, (26 not out) guided Durham home with five wickets to spare.

Lancashire have a game in hand over Durham and have six wins, one draw and two defeats this season.

Warwickshire are third with six wins and three draws after a eight-wicket victory against Sussex at Arundel.

Sussex batted first but fell from 139-2 to 251 despite Murray Goodwin's 79 not out and Ed Joyce's 73. Rikki Clarke (3-52) and Boyd Rankin (3-76) did most of the damage.

Warwickshire piled on 481 in response, Clarke hitting 81 not out, Darren Maddy 76 and Ian Westwood 72. James Anyon (3-87) and Monty Panesar (3-88) each took three wickets.

The home side made 301 in their second innings with Luke Wright hitting 116 from 124 balls but Rana Naved-ul-Hasan was unable to bat due to a shoulder injury. Jeevan Patel's 5-96 and Rankin's 4-60 pushed Warwickshire towards victory.

Chasing 72 for the win, the away side reached their target with eight wickets to spare. Defeat leaves Susses in fifth place with 90 points having played eight games.

The next round of fixtures sees Nottinghamshire host Somerset, Sussex face Hampshire and Yorkshire against Worcestershire from July 11.