LONDON - Durham won their third County Championship title in six years after completing an eight-wicket victory over Nottinghamshire with more than a day to spare Thursday. Rain washed out the third day's morning session but when play resumed after lunch at Chester-le-Street, northeast county Durham's headquarters, the hosts needed just 62 more runs to win with all 10 second innings wickets left.
They took just 16 overs Thursday to reach their target, and although they lost Keaton Jennings and Scott Borthwick along the way, Mark Stoneman's 35 not out saw Durham to victory, the opener sealing the title in style with a boundary off Paul Franks. Durham, captained by former England batsman Paul Collingwood -- one of several locally-produced players in their side -- bucked the trend among county teams by opting to do without an overseas star this season.
They also were without the input of long-serving coach Geoff Cook for much of the season after he suffered a heart attack.
Durham's latest Championship title to set alongside their 2008 and 2009 triumphs continued a run of success all the more impressive given it is only 21 years since they played their first match as England's 18th first-class county.