Harmison clinches victory

As he builds up gradually in the hope of featuring in the Ashes, Harmison took the first four wickets before Graham Onions had Andrew Flintoff brilliantly caught by a diving Mitch Claydon at mid-off for a duck.

That took Onions to 40 first-class wickets this season, way ahead of the field, otherwise he was out of luck as, for the first time in this campaign, he was outshone by Harmison.

Generally the Ashington Express has looked a little rickety, and he again began with some wayward stuff as his opening over cost ten runs. But in his second he made one lift sharply and leave Paul Horton to have him caught behind.

Next to go was South African Ashwell Prince, who for the second time in the match stood his ground for several seconds after being given out lbw by Neil Mallender. But a television camera suggested he should have been given out in Harmison’s previous over, when he appeared to glove a leg-side catch to Phil Mustard.

Another quick, rearing delivery from Harmison struck Francois Du Plessis on the hand first ball, necessitating treatment, and just before lunch the South African fell for five, edging another good ball to Mustard.

Mal Loye rode his luck to make 30, surviving a huge appeal for caught behind off Onions and twice edging him just out of the slips’ reach. But he became Harmison’s fourth victim when an unplayable ball hit his bat handle and flew to Gordon Muchall at third slip.

Flintoff probably decided to have a blast at anything pitched up, but didn’t quite middle his drive at Onions, allowing Claydon to fling himself to his right to hold the one-handed catch.

With figures of four for 37 in a 13-over spell broken by lunch, Harmison gave way to Claydon, who had Mark Chilton caught by Mustard when attempting to hook.

Claydon bowled seven overs without further success then Harmison returned and struck with his second ball when Glen Chapple edged a drive to Michael Di Venuto at second slip.

Having not bowled any spin in the match, Durham were in danger of a points deduction for a slow over-rate and brought on Ian Blackwell, whose first over cost nine runs as Luke Sutton and Sajid Mahmood tried to revive Lancashire from 113 for seven.

But when Onions returned for his first spell from the Finchale End, where Harmison took his wickets, he had Mahmood well caught off an inside edge by Mustard, giving the wicketkeeper his eighth catch of the match. Blackwell then bowled Oliver Newby round his legs and Onions bowled Gary Keedy to seal victory.

Mahmood earlier finished with a career-best six for 30 after taking three of Durham’s four remaining wickets, which added only 17 runs before they were all out for 145.

Blackwell was first to go, caught and bowled for 74 when trying to turn Mahmood to leg. The same bowler forced Claydon to fend to third slip then Callum Thorp edged a drive to first slip.

The last wicket went to Flintoff when Harmison tried to launch him over cover and was sensationally caught by Du Plessis, who turned and ran 15 yards back towards the boundary before diving to hold the ball one-handed. It was Harmison’s fourth successive championship duck.