Durham 405 (Stokes 95, Robinson 84, Rhodes 62, Conway 4-61, Sanderson 4-105) and 296 for 4 (Bedingham 109*, Ackermann 65*) beat Northamptonshire 450 (Vasconcelos 187, Zaib 61, Procter 58) and 250 (Miller 61, McSweeney 52, Potts 4-77) by six wickets

A sensational unbeaten century from David Bedingham helped Durham pull clear at the top of Division Two in the County Championship Division Two as they beat Northamptonshire by six wickets in a thrilling climax.

Northants set Durham a target of 296 to chase at the Riverside on the final day after being bowled out for 250 in the morning session. The beginning of Durham's chase was tightly contested , but Northants seized control as they slid from 48 for 0 to 107 for 4.

But Bedingham steadied the ship with help from half-centurion Colin Ackermann, and then took the game to Northants after tea, reaching three figures for the 29th time in first-class cricket. The pair, whose unbroken partnership was worth 189, then saw Durham to the target of 296 with 16 balls to spare.

The result sees Durham extend their lead at the top of Division Two, while Northants drop to third due to Kent's win over Middlesex.

Resuming on 200 for 6 with a 245-run lead, Northants' aim was to score quick runs and give themselves enough time to bowl Durham out on the final day. But it was Durham who got off to the dream start, as George Bartlett was caught at backward point off the bowling of Matthew Potts.

Kasey Aldridge came into the attack and removed Liam Guthrie who chipped one in the direction of Ben Raine, who produced an excellent diving effort at mid-on. Norhants then lost their ninth as Aldridge accounted for Ben Sanderson, who was caught in the covers. Raine picked up the final wicket as Justin Broad was caught behind one short of a half-century.

Durham started their chase in challenging batting conditions before lunch, with Sanderson and Harry Conway getting the ball to talk, but Ben McKinney responded by clubbing one to the boundary. Alex Lees and McKinney were starting to find more run-scoring opportunities as they navigated the opening 10 overs successfully, but Northants found the breakthrough just before lunch as Guthrie got McKinney who was caught brilliantly by Bartlett at backward point.

Lees was joined by Will Rhodes at the crease and the Northants bowlers continued to cause the Durham batters problems. The impressive Conway then got the vital wicket of Lees as the Durham captain edged a delivery straight to second slip.

Rhodes was heading back to the pavilion soon after as Calvin Harrison got him lbw to give Northants the edge and Sanderson got Graham Clark lbw to leave Durham in trouble. Bedingham responded to the double blow by thrashing a Harrison delivery down the ground for six.

Bedingham and Ackermann, who came into the game as Ben Stokes' replacement, saw the hosts through to tea without further loss. They continued their stand and Bedingham reached his half-century with a glorious cover drive.

The South African international then flicked a switch and put his foot on the gas, with runs flowing quickly from his bat. Bedingham was reprieved when he picked out Guthrie on the rope off a Harrison no-ball, and he made him pay for the mistake by heaving him for six. Ackermann then started to play his shots as Durham neared the target, with the fifth-wicket partnership passing 150.

Bedingham brought up his fourth century of the season, while Ackermann reached his first half-century of the season with the first boundary of his innings. The pair then secured the victory, which gives their side a healthy lead at the top of Division Two.