Durham finish with a flourish

Ben Brown: Struck a fluent unbeaten 76 for Sussex on a dramatic opening day

Luke Wells: hit a crucial half-century to give Sussex hope at the halfway stage

Chris Rushworth: wrapped up the Sussex tail

Durham signed off their 2012 season on a high with a five-wicket victory over Sussex inside three days at Chester-le-Street.

Pace bowler Chris Rushworth wrapped up the Sussex tail to finish with 5-38 and set the hosts a victory target of 165, which they reached with the help of a half-century from Michael Richardson.

Resuming their second innings on 112-5, the visitors suffered an early setback when Luke Wells fell in the second over of the day without adding to his overnight 51.

Wells edged Ben Stokes behind and although Ben Brown stuck around to make a patient 30, Rushworth ripped through the lower order, claiming the final four wickets.

Keaton Jennings and Mark Stoneman were early casualties in the Durham run-chase but Richardson (58) and Stokes (45) got them back on track with a 66-run third-wicket stand.

Richardson was eventually trapped in front by Lewis Hatchet, leaving skipper Paul Collingwood and Phil Mustard to see Durham over the line, with the latter stroking the winning four.

Day Two

Opener Luke Wells hit an unbeaten half-century to keep Sussex in the hunt by the end of day two against Durham at Chester-le-Street.

The left-hander, who scored his maiden century early last season at the same venue, made 51 not out as the visitors reached the close on 112-5, giving them a lead of 96.

Michael Yardy made 29 but Sussex saw half their side back in the pavilion with just 69 runs on the board, all-rounder Ben Stokes taking a couple of wickets.

However Wells and wicketkeeper Ben Brown (12 not out) put on an unbroken stand of 43 to halt Durham's charge ina match that had seen 16 wickets fall on the opening day.

The hosts has resumed their first innings in the morning on 131-6 and seventh-wicket pair Phil Mustard (45) and Scott Borthwick (35) extended their stand to 83 in the morning.

Sussex's acting captain Chris Nash eventually ended the stand by getting Mustard leg before, as Durham lost their last four wickets for 25 runs to be bowled out for 227.

Day One

Sussex stepped up their bid for second place in the LV= County Championship thanks to a fine display with bat and ball against Durham at Chester-le-Street.

Ben Brown struck a fluent unbeaten 76 before Steve Magoffin produced a fine bowling display, opening with 3-19 in 10 overs.

Durham recovered from 65-4 thanks in large part to a stand of 53 between Mark Stoneman and Paul Collingwood, before the seamer from Western Australian returned.

And Monty Panesar lifted the day's tally of wickets to 16 as he took an impressive 2-4 in just five overs as Durham closed the day on 131-6.

Sussex took the opportunity to give experience to a few youngsters, despite having more at stake than their opponents.

Brown looked very comfortable and timed the ball superbly in making his runs off 102 balls with 13 fours.

South African all-rounder Kirk Wernars fell three short of his career-best on (50) and Luke Wells (25) helped the home side reach a tally of 211.

Durham also scored fluently against all bowlers other than Magoffin and Panesar and are 80 runs behind with four wickets remaining.