CHRIS Rushworth continues to be a revelation and his latest five-wicket haul gave Durham the chance to turn the tables on Sussex yesterday.

The visitors were clear favourites on 217 for four, but they were all out for 265, leaving Durham a target of 262 to win. They were 115 for two when bad light, then rain, ended play.

With a further 147 needed, it would be a huge shame if today's weather prevented a result in what has been an enthralling game.

After John Hastings observed on Monday evening “I can't buy a wicket at the moment” it was recalled that Rushworth went through a similar period last season before all his rewards came at once.

He took 27 wickets in the last three games and has followed up with 14 in the first two this season, so there is little wonder that some observers are questioning why he wasn't in the England squad named yesterday for the one-day match against Ireland on May 8.

Along with Hastings, who was continuing in the same vein as the previous evening, Rushworth was back in luckless mode yesterday morning as both regularly beat the bat and had impassioned lbw appeals turned down.

Hastings had pointed out that, on the evidence of the first innings, it was crucial for Durham to take wickets in the day's first 20 overs before batting became easier against the ageing ball.

As it turned out he was wrong. It was 55 minutes before they broke through and things were looking ominous. But they were rewarded for sheer perseverance and this time there was no wagging tail.

After the last-wicket stand of 164 in the first innings last man Matt Hobden was out first ball, comprehensively yorked by Hastings after having Steve Magoffin caught behind for his first wicket when he might have had six or seven.

Rushworth, who set up the victory at Taunton with six for 92 in the second innings, finished with five for 81. He had removed the openers on Monday evening but was wicketless in his first spell yesterday.

Paul Collingwood astutely brought him back for a few more overs before lunch, when he suddenly found lift and movement to have Ben Brown very well caught by Scott Borthwick at second slip.

Sussex were still marginal favourites at lunch, but with Rushworth and Hastings continuing in tandem the last four wickets went down for 30 afterwards.

The crucial one was that of Luke Wright, who had looked dangerous throughout his innings as his bold strokes took him to 39. Little wonder that Rushworth was jubilant when he brought one back to take out Wright's middle stump.

Rushworth said: “We knew we needed quick wickets after lunch and to wrap them up like that was a big plus.

“There's a bit of variable bounce but it's a good pitch and the scores are about par. It's been a remarkable game and one of the coldest I've played in.

“The ball doesn't swing in these conditions, but I got one to nip back off the pitch to get Luke Wright when he was looking dangerous. It's always nice to see the middle stump ten yards back.”

Usman Arshad also played a crucial part as he took the first two wickets in the morning, even if it was an innocuous delivery which made the breakthrough when Harry Finch edged a poor shot to Phil Mustard.

The real thorn in Durham's flesh was stocky left-hander Matt Machan, who abandoned his cavalier approach of the first innings to show surprising resilience in reaching 80.

Arshad also had Machan lbw with one which kept low and that proved a big turning point.

Durham began their chase confidently with 80 on the boaed inside 19 overs, but there was another twist when Ajmal Shahzad removed both openers.

Very little got past the bats of Mark Stoneman and Keaton Jennings, but three balls after pulling Shahzad for six, Stoneman shaped to drive and was lbw for 41 in the 19th over.

Batting suddenly looked much more hazardous and four overs later Jennings propped forward and edged Shahzad to Ben Brown. But Borthwick and Michael Richardson survived until the clouds rolled over and will hope to take Durham a long way towards victory today.