English Cricket: 2011 County Championship Division 1, Round 14

Durham took advantage of the Warwickshire drawing, and Somerset and Lancashire losing to climb to the top of the table while Yorkshire look set for relegation after Hampshire and Worcestershire recorded victories.

Durham go back to the top of table after 15 games on 211 points following a 208-run victory against Sussex at Hove.

Durham posted 328 the first time around thanks to Mark Stoneman's 128 and Dale Benkenstein's 64. James Anyon (3-111) and Wayne Parnell (3-117) both took three wickets.

Sussex could only manage 218 in reply, with Michael Yardy hitting 66. Scott Borthwick claimed 5-80 and Graham Onions 4-67.

Durham declared on 366-7 in their second innings, with Will Smith making 100 and Ian Blackwell 61. Chris Nash took 4-103 and Monty Panesar 2-42.

Chasing a mammoth 521 for victory, relegation-threatened Sussex made a valiant effort, but were eventually dismissed for 312. Matt Prior made 77, Ed Joyce 57 and Parnell 44, but Ian Blackwell's 5-102 and the 3-49 from Graham Onions led Durham to victory by 208 runs.

Sussex are sixth on 136 points from 14 games, but are still not mathematically safe from relegation.

Warwickshire are second on 204 points after 14 games after drawing with Yorkshire at Edgbaston.

Yorkshire posted 281 the first time around thanks to 84 from Joe Sayers and 74 from Adam Lyth. Rikki Clarke returned 4-55 and Chris Metters 3-47.

Warwickshire were in a bit of trouble at 137-4, but Shivnarine Chanderpaul's 110 and Tim Ambrose's 69 guided them to 318. Ryan Sidebottom was the pick of the bowlers with 5-43.

Yorkshire declared on 385-8 in their second innings as Gary Ballance struck 111 and Adil Rashid 82. Chris Wright claimed 4-102 for the home side.

Chasing an unlikely 349 for victory, Warwickshire were reduced to 89-3, but Chanderpaul (56 not out) and Jim Troughton (62 not out) saw them to 214-3 before the match was ended as a draw.

Yorkshire are ninth on 119 points after 15 games, and must win their final game to have any chance of survival.

Lancashire are third on 201 points as their title hopes suffered a major blow as they were thrashed by 10 wickets inside two days against Worcestershire at New Road.

The Red Rose county found themselves 85-8 before Kyle Hogg (46) and Sajid Mahmood (28) dragged them to 161. Gareth Andrew claimed 3-37, Kemar Roach 3-69, Richard Jones 2-8 and Alan Richardson 2-32.

James Cameron's 98 guided the home side to 237, as Glen Chapple claimed 4-58, Tom Smith 3-42 and Kyle Hogg 3-50.

The away side then capitulated to just 80 all out, albeit without opener Stephen Moore who was absent with his wife about to give birth. Five of the six top order batsmen fell LBW to Alan Richardson (6-22) while Roach (3-44) polished off the tail.

Worcestershire took just three balls to get the five runs needed for a comprehensive victory.

Worcestershire are seventh after 14 games on 133 points, seriously boosting their survival hopes.  

Somerset also suffered a potentially fatal blow to their title hopes as they lost to bottom side Hampshire by an innings and 61 runs.

Somerset, without the injured Marcus Trescothick, slumped to 86-7 before a recovery led them to 204. Murali Kartik hitting 59 not out while James Tomlinson took 3-40 and Imran Tahir 2-22.

Hampshire racked up 627-9 declared, including a second wicket partnership of 373 runs between Jimmy Adams (207) and Michael Carberry (182). Sean Ervine also made 98, while Charl Willoughby claimed 3-118.

Somerset slumped to 23-3 and 132-6 before showing some fight to reach 362. Alfonso Thomas hitting 94 and Craig Meschede 53. Imran Tahir picked up 4-125 and Dimitri Mascarenhas 3-70 to set up victory by an innings and 61 runs.

Hampshire are unbeaten in six games, but remain bottom after 14 games on 114 points.

The next round of fixtures, from September 7, sees Worcestershire host Sussex, Yorkshire face Somerset, Lancashire play Hampshire and Warwickshire against Nottinghamshire.

If Worcestershire or Sussex win, they are safe. Yorkshire must beat Somerset in their final game to stand any chance of survival, but Somerset must win to keep their title hopes alive. 

Hampshire must win to mathematically take their chance of survival to the last game, but Lancashire and Warwickshire will be looking to win to overtake league leaders Durham who are not playing in this round.