Durham's drop fears growing

ECB REPORTERS NETWORK SUPPORTED BY ROTHESAY

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DURHAM are in the thick of a fight to stay in Division One of the Rothesay County Championship after losing to Surrey by five wickets at the Banks Homes Riverside.

Indian slow left-armer, Sai Kishore, took five for 72 as Rory Burns' side dismissed Durham for 344 in their second innings and Sam Curran made 40 to help Surrey score the 176 runs they needed.

With the game between Nottinghamshire and Somerset at Trent Bridge seemingly heading for a draw, it appears certain the 21 points Surrey earned for their victory will ensure they extend their lead at the top of the Division One table.

However, the three points they earned from the game does nothing to ease next-to-bottom Durham's relegation concerns, although their situation will not be clear until the results at Scarborough, Chelmsford and Worcester are known today.

Head coach Ryan Campbell said: “It’s very disappointing but we find ourselves in a precarious position and it's going to take a lot of energy, courage and fight to get us out of it.

“We can either put our heads down and cry in the corner or we can get in a battle and that's what I know this group are going to do, so those next three games are going to be exciting stuff.