Pears made to work for victory

Rushworth picked up five wickets and posed all sorts of problems in reducing Worcestershire to 55-5 as they chased a modest target of 81.

The 32-year-old ended his nine-over spell with figures of 5-28 – the 22nd five-wicket haul of his career – as the hosts suffered a more nervy morning than anticipated.

But the sixth-wicket pair of Ross Whiteley and Ben Cox saw Worcestershire over the finishing line half an hour before lunch.

Durham were dismissed for 197 in their second innings at the end of the third day, leaving Worcestershire with a simple-looking chase on the final day at New Road.

But in overcast conditions, the hosts were soon struggling as Rushworth asked questions with almost every delivery.

Daryl Mitchell was lbw for nine after he offered no stroke and then George Rhodes was bowled for a duck as he attempted a drive.

Debutant Josh Dell failed to repeat the heroics of his first-innings 61 as he scored just four before he had his stumps shattered by Rushworth.

First innings century-maker Riki Wessels was then undone by a ball which kept low and castled him for a third-ball duck.

Tom Fell mixed some attacking strokes with fortuitous edges in making 36 off 37 balls, with eight fours, before he was trapped lbw to become Rushworth’s fifth victim.

Worcestershire still required 26 runs with five wickets intact but Whiteley and Cox steered them home with an unbeaten partnership that spanned 7.3 overs.

Durham suffered their third successive defeat which left them anchored at the bottom of the table with 11 points.