Durham 110 & 80 Sussex 229 <i>(Sussex won by an innings and 39 runs)</i>: Destruction of Durham puts Mushtaq in Pakistan frame
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Much more of this and Mushtaq Ahmed, 36 next month, could be back in the Pakistan team for the four-Test series against England, starting on 13 July. His 5 for 12 at Chester-le-Street yesterday gave him match figures of 10 for 37 as the First Division leaders Sussex beat Durham inside five sessions.
Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, who looks a certainty for Pakistan, took the other five wickets, giving the deadly duo 19 between them in the match and 65 for the season after five games which have produced four successive wins.
Although three days of rain preceded the match, the pitch was blameless as Durham had reduced their deficit to 72 by reaching 47 without loss in their second innings. But the sight of Mushtaq inspired a mixture of recklessness and paralysis as he sparked the capitulation to 80 all out with three wickets in four balls in his first over.
Durham seemed to have decided not to let him dominate as Jimmy Maher edged a cut to Chris Adams at slip. Gordon Muchall went forward to the next ball and was out leg before, then Gary Pratt top-edged a sweep to mid-wicket.
Rana returned to take the next three wickets before Jon Lewis was seventh out for 28 as both he and Graham Onions were stumped to complete Mushtaq's haul.
Mushtaq, who played the last of his 52 Tests in 2004, said: "I was very close to playing against England last winter and I always believe I have something to offer."
Durham had earlier threatened a fightback through some hostile and accurate bowling from Steve Harmison, who took 4 for 19 in 11 overs to leave no doubt about his readiness for an England return.
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