Best first-class figures for Liam Hurt as Lancashire defeat Durham inside three days

The Red Rose compounded their advantage in this Bob Willis Trophy match by passing the 300-run mark with the bat, earning a third bonus point.

Leading by 128 on first innings, the visitors were relentless with the ball to dismiss Durham second time around for 110.

Tom Bailey led the way, taking three wickets to remove the top order, then Liam Hurt took centre stage with his best first-class figures of 4-27 as only four batsmen reached double figures.

Resuming on 284-9 in reply to Durham’s first effort of 180, Bailey found the boundary with ease.

He launched two sixes and was unbeaten on 38 when Matt Salisbury ended the innings for 308, claiming his fourth wicket by pinning Richard Gleeson lbw for two.

Durham’s second innings began in the worst possible manner, losing Alex Lees for a duck to a sublime yorker from Bailey that dislodged his off-stump.

Sean Dickson fell for three, edging behind to Alex Davies from another fine Bailey delivery.

Durham soon slumped to 5-3 as Luke Wood swung a delivery back into the pads of Cameron Steel.

The home side suffered a further blow before lunch when Wood found Gareth Harte’s outside edge, putting the visitors in complete control.

David Bedingham tried to provide impetus to the Durham innings after the restart. He made a brisk 25 before he became Bailey’s third victim, pinned lbw.

The visitors kept plugging away as Preston-born Hurt’s introduction into the attack from the Finchale End brought the wickets of Ned Eckersley and Brydon Carse.

The Durham skipper received a ball that rose off the surface and he could only fend it into the hands of Steven Croft.

Carse was then trapped lbw by a swinging delivery from the right-arm seamer.

Ben Raine was left to face the hat-trick ball but survived with a solid defence.

Jack Burnham offered resistance, ensuring that Durham surpassed their lowest first-class total of 61. He played well for his 27 until he got caught in two minds playing a pull against Hurt, inside-edging the ball onto his own stumps.

Hurt claimed his fourth wicket of the session by removing Matt Salisbury after finding the outside edge

Liam Livingstone put down Bedingham but atoned with a brilliant low catch at second slip to send the tailender on his way.

Raine and Chris Rushworth battled to delay the inevitable, putting on 24 for the final wicket.

Livingstone ended proceedings as Rushworth edged behind to Davies for 11 as the Red Rose got off the mark in the competition following defeat by Leicestershire.

Lancashire are now back in contention in the North Group, earning 22 points from this match, and next face Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, starting Saturday.