Rain came close to halting Durham's march. It started 20 minutes earlier than local forecasters had predicted - but by then Durham had completed their scamper to victory, which yesterday required them to make 115 with nine wickets in hand. They did it in 75 minutes.

And if the home side were fortunate with the weather - which meantime had held up Nottinghamshire - they also benefited from an escape for Michael Di Venuto, their eventual match-winner.

It was early in the final session when Di Venuto, 43 overnight, hoisted a ball to long leg, where Alexei Kervezee, who barely had to move, dropped the simple chance at knee height.

After that, there were no more chances from the Tasmanian left-hander but three of his partners perished. They fell not just from the risks inherent in their acceleration but also because of the swing rediscovered by Matt Mason in changing atmospherics.

Gordon Muchall and Dale Benkenstein were both taken in the slips off him, abruptly halting their boundary-chasing.

In the end, Di Venuto took complete charge, collecting his second fifty - out of 70 - in 46 balls. He just had time to snatch the runs required for his century, with Phil Mustard playing a quiet supporting role at the other end. The five-wicket win may have looked comfortable, but had Di Venuto fallen, the visitors would have had a clear glimpse of a possible route to victory. It might well have been a very edgy conclusion.

As it was, the champions were pushed harder than in any game this season, and by a side who lie bottom - and, moreover, were missing three batsmen on account of the England Lions' demands.

But Durham will gladly accept their fourth successive victory, and the extension of their championship lead to 18 points. The best news for Durham, though, was the resurgence of Liam Plunkett, who took the first ten-wicket haul of his career. “He's had a frustrating time,” Geoff Cook, the Durham director of cricket, said: “Playing for England brought some alterations to his action, and he fell back. We've really reinvented the wheel, encouraging him to use his height, athleticism and speed. His 11 wickets turned the match.”

Worcestershire: First Innings 193 (A A Noffke 50; L E Plunkett 6 for 63)

Second Innings 179 (A N Kervezee 66; L E Plunkett 5 for 56)

Durham: First Innings 194 (P Mustard 63 not out; Kabir Ali 6 for 68)

Second Innings (overnight 64-1)
M J Di Venuto not out 100
*W R Smith c Smith b Whelan 16
G J Muchall c Mitchell b Mason 14
D M Benkenstein c Knappett b Mason 17
I D Blackwell c Wheeldon b Mason 3
†P Mustard not out 2
Extras (b 2, lb 6, nb 4) 12
Total (5 wkts, 41 overs) 179
Fall of wickets: 1-47, 2-90, 3-115, 4-137, 5-155.
Bowling: K Ali 6-0-23-0; Mason 11-2-35-3; Noffke 7-2-11-1; Batty 10-1-48-0; Whelan 5-0-37-1; M M Ali 2-0-17-0.
Umpires: R J Bailey and N G B Cook.