FOUR days of compelling cricket at Southport went into the final session with Durham needing 50 to beat Lancashire with three wickets standing.

Debut boy Adam Hickey, going in after five wickets had gone for 25 runs, had still to get off the mark at tea. But Lancashire's tactic of giving Ben Stokes singles to get Hickey on strike backfired as the Darlington-born all-rounder scored 21 of the next 24 runs before Stokes decided to finish the job.

He lifted Simon Kerrigan for two sixes before, with four needed, Hickey called him for a bye and he was run out at the non-striker's end for 36.

Chris Rushworth emerged to drive a four through the covers, sealing a two-wicket win which took Durham into second place, 13 points behind Middlesex.

The match was superbly staged by a very hospitable club and if this is the sort of drama outground cricket can produce it must not be allowed to wither.

All credit to the groundsman for producing a pitch which lasted so well. Locals had expected the Lancashire spinners to wreak havoc on the final day, as in previous Southport matches, but it was Tom Smith who created the penultimate twist in the fascinating tale.

Needing 247 to win, Durham were coasting while Keaton Jennings and Jack Burnham were making hay in the blazing sun. But when both got out on 170 after a third-wicket stand of 123 the jitters set in.

A further three wickets down for the addition of 25 runs, four of them to Smith, who had figures of five for 16 when Hickey joined Stokes just before tea.

Despite his first innings duck, Hickey looked very composed once he had driven Smith sublimely through the covers for four the tide had turned again. He also pulled Kyle Jarvis for six in his unbeaten 21.

All-rounder Smith atoned for scoring one run in the match and twice dropping Burnham at slip with his first five-wicket haul since achieving the feat in both matches against Durham in 2014.

At just above medium pace he can look innocuous, but he used his height to hit the deck and let the pitch do the work.

Burnham fell lbw for 52 when left-arm spinner Simon Kerrigan speared a fast yorker into his boot, then Jennings' immaculate innings of 82 ended when he skied an attempted pull off Smith.

The ball soared heavenwards and wicketkeeper Tom Moores did well to hang when dazzled by the blazing sun.

Michael Richardson's lack of form was palpable and while he might have been unlucky to tickle a leg-side catch to the wicketkeeper his exit was no surprise.

Paul Collingwood, nursing his hand injury, also looked ill at ease and he fell lbw for four to a ball from Smith which nipped back.

Paul Coughlin went for five when he reached wide of off stump and was brilliantly caught by the diving Moores.

There is a danger that Durham are becoming too dependent on Jennings, who now has 950 championship runs.

He and Burnham, who made 52, countered the spin threat with great skill and Burnham was beginning to look as though he could hasten Durham home.

After diligently spending 109 balls over his first 29 runs, he needed only a further 20 deliveries to reach 50, driving Steven Croft and Kerrigan for two sixes.

Mark Stoneman was lbw to the day's sixth ball, but Scott Borthwick was the only batsman to fall as Durham reached 97 for two at lunch.

After Stoneman's exit, Borthwick played fluently in contributing 28 to a stand of 41.

It was expected that the spinners would be on early, but Smith came on first change and had Borthwick caught low down at gully when he squared him up with a ball of extra bounce.

Kerrigan was on for the 13th over and leg-spinner Matt Parkinson for the 21st.

Kerrigan set the excitable tone with a huge lbw appeal from his fourth ball, although it had clearly turned enough to be missing Jennings' leg stump.

The appeals grew more ridiculous as Lancashire's frustration grew, and while there were moments of discomfort Jennings and Burnham continued to prosper.

It looked as though they would finish the job by tea, but it was fitting that four days of absorbing drama should have an exciting finale.