DURHAM coach Martyn Moxon last night paid tribute to Callum Thorp after the Australian's amazing purple patch saw him sweep Durham to a 227-run win against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.

In one of the most sensational hours of Durham's first-class life the last nine wickets went down for 33 runs, Thorp taking five of them to finish with match figures of 11-97.

He followed up the best one-day figures since Durham became a first-class county - six for 17 against Scotland on Sunday - by making a career-best 75 runs on the first day at the Rose Bowl before improving dramatically on his previous best first-class figures of three for ten.

"I'm really pleased for him," said Moxon. "He's a quiet lad who works hard at his game and has become a tremendous member of the team.

"When he arrived last season after being recommended by Mike Hussey he had just had an operation to remove a cancerous growth in his back and he was playing catch-up all summer.

"His statistics were not remarkable, but we felt there was something there and we hadn't seen the best of him.

"After bowling in Australia during the winter he came to our pre-season trip to Dubai and was impressive from day one. Getting those wickets against Scotland would have been good for his confidence and he has bowled really well here and exploited the conditions."

After three successive championship defeats, this was a tremendous win for Durham after being 60 for five on the first morning and Moxon admitted it had been a "nightmare decision" over whether to bat after Dale Benkenstein won the toss.

"There was some moisture in the pitch and it was grassy, but we were wary about how it would play late in the game.

"Our lower order batted really well on the first day, then the application we showed in our second innings was very pleasing for me. There was a determination and desire to bat for a long time. Once we passed 300 we knew we were well in the game.

"Hampshire were still in it at 71 for one, but then Dale bounced out Jimmy Adams. He's only medium pace but he bowls a good bouncer and uses it as a surprise weapon.

"Then Phil Mustard's stumping to get rid of Sean Ervine was as good as any you will see, and after that we just got on a roll."

Further good news for Durham was that Mark Davies' scan has shown no sign of a re-fracture in his back, so Durham are hoping he will be OK once the soreness disappears.

But all was far from sweetness and light in the Hampshire camp, where skipper Shane Warne was said to be in a huge rage prior to flying home to Australia for treatment on an arm injury.

He was reported to have been unhappy that the pitch for this match was prepared to suit the seamers and he looked far from his best as he took only wicket in the match.