Durham took control of the County Championship Division 2 with a heavy win over Middlesex on Tuesday. The hosts posted 626 before bowling out the visitors for 533 on the final day of the fixture. It was a statement victory for the leaders after a tougher season so far.
By then, the mood had shifted entirely from their August encounter where Middlesex edged a tight contest. The visitors had looked dangerous in their last outing against Lancashire, posting 447 runs. To be fair, that momentum did not carry over into this match.
The total of 626 runs suggests the home side let the game flow from the start. They fancy their chances of staying top with such firepower on display. Middlesex struggled to contain the run rate in the middle overs. And here's the thing, the batting lineup showed real patience under pressure.
Durham remain unbeaten in 8 games with 214 points on the board. That puts them comfortably ahead of the chasing pack. Middlesex sit fourth with 135 points after 4 defeats in the same number of matches.
The 79-point gap widens the divide between the two sides. Durham have opened talks about their title ambitions after this comprehensive performance. The visitors need to find consistency if they want to climb back.