SCOTT BORTHWICK yesterday silenced those who claim he has become purely a batsman by spinning Durham to their sixth win of the season.

After taking four for 46 against Sussex at Arundel he said: “I still think of myself as a leggie and I knew I would get the chance because on the fourth day this pitch would favour my pace and spin.

“It got easier to bat on on the third day, but it did start to spin. I'm normally standing at second slip watching the seamers blast the opposition out, so it was good to show we can win in other ways.”

The game was heading for a draw until Borthwick and Ryan Pringle took a wicket each just before the new ball was due.

“Until we did that I think the captain was planning to take the new ball straightaway,” he said. “Then we got a few more and kept going for a while, so it was nice to get plenty of overs in.”

Although Durham are 29 points clear at the top, their rivals have games in hand and Borthwick added: “There's a long way to go yet and a lot can happen.

“We are playing well and looking forward to the visit of Yorkshire. It's going to be a massive game.”

*Any chance of England players being available for the Durham v Yorkshire game starting at Chester-le-Street on Sunday week was scotched when they were named in a pre-Ashes squad for a trip to Spain yesterday.

Ben Stokes, Mark Wood, Joe Root, Gary Ballance and Liam Plunkett will fly out on June 27, the day before the crucial championship clash begins.