Durham have recorded a famous victory at Scarborough against Yorkshire and in doing so have reduced the gap between them and the Championship leaders by just 5.5 points.
With Durham having a game in hand, playing Sussex at home next week the win has made them real title contenders going into the last month of the County Championships with Durham now on 179 points just behind Yorkshire on 185 but ahead of 3rd place Sussex who is on 156 points.
The win was an outstanding team performance with three centurions in the first innings (Mark Stoneman, Ben Stokes and Michael Richardson) alongside the whole bowling attack contributing in both Yorkshire innings whilst today it was Scott Borthwick who showed his true all-round ability in getting Durham across the line.
Yorkshire resumed Day 4 on 276-1, trailing Durham by 23 runs as Phil Jaques and Kane Williamson were looking to continue their dominant partnership which begun yesterday afternoon.
Ben Stokes had other ideas however and got the much needed second wicket just 15 minutes into the morning session as Williamson found Will Smith at gully to depart for 97, breaking a 264 run partnership.
Stokes then got another wicket, dismissing Jaques for 152 after he edged behind to Phil Mustard, Yorkshire 284-3.
Bairstow and Gale then gave the home-side the lead 45 minutes into the final day.
Jamie Harrison then took the new ball and had immediate impact, dismissing Gale who found Richardson on Harrison’s first ball of the morning leaving Yorkshire four wickets down.
Jonny Bairstow and Gary Balance then looked poised at the crease and added 36 before Chris Rushworth struck just before lunch with the big wicket of Bairstow as Richardson took the catch to dismiss him for 82.
Rushworth then struck again first ball after lunch dismissing Rashid with Keaton Jennings the catch and when Stokes claimed the big wicket of Ballance with juggling Phil Mustard taking the catch Durham had Yorkshire 357-7 with a lead of 57.
Liam Plunkett and Ryan Sidebottom then proved resilient for Yorkshire with the pair frustrating the Durham attack which was down a bowler with Mark Wood side-lined for the final day after suffering a side strain.
The pair put on a 53-run stand before spinner Scott Borthwick changed the momentum of the game, dismissing Sidebottom 214 balls after the seventh wicket fell.
Borthwick then claimed the big wicket of Plunkett five overs later after he made 42 with Stokes taking the catch and he then claimed the final wicket with Collingwood taking the catch to dismiss Brooks and Yorkshire were all out for 419 with a lead of 120.
Durham then had 38 overs to get the required runs and their run chase started nervously when Stoneman was dismissed by Sidebottom first ball.
Jennings and Borthwick then stayed composed at the crease with Scott Borthwick taking a fancy to the Yorkshire attack and taking the lead in the second wicket partnership.
Borthwick made his way to 50 off just 61 balls and was backing up his efforts with the balls earlier in the day where he claimed three wickets.
The Borthwick/Jennings partnership went to 72 runs and ended in the 19th over of the Durham second innings when Jennings was dismissed after hitting straight to Jaques at short leg leaving Durham 72-2.
It was then left to Will Smith and Borthwick to get the required runs and the pair put on 31 runs before Borthwick was bowled by Rashid with Durham needing just 18 more runs to win.
Borthwick made 65 from 85 balls in a superb and composed innings which included 13 boundaries.
Ben Stokes (11no) who had also been dominant with bat and ball in this match then came to the crease with Smith who finished on 27no and the two got the required runs in the 28th over to give Durham a superb win.
Durham, who have a game in hand over Yorkshire, now face third place Sussex in another crucial match next week at home.
Scorecard available here: