Worcestershire are back in Division One of the Specsavers County Championship for 2018 after securing a fifth promotion in 12 seasons under Director Of Cricket Steve Rhodes.
They bowled out Durham for 208 after claiming their final five wickets this morning to wrap up the maximum of six points required before the game.
But promotion was actually sealed 70 miles away 12 minutes after play got underway this morning when one of their rivals, Northamptonshire, were bowled out for 202 against Leicestershire at Grace Road.
That meant they were unable to accumulate the same points tally as Worcestershire who then got to work themselves in eking out a first innings lead of 127.
Durham resumed on 142-5 and lost their last five wickets for 66 in 24.4 overs with only Michael Richardson offering much resistance in moving from his unbeaten 12 overnight to 45 not out.
Worcestershire skipper Joe Leach made the first breakthrough of the morning – his 66th victim of the summer – as Ryan Pringle (2) was caught behind and then Liam Trevaskis (5) was trapped lbw by Ravichandran Ashwin.
Ed Barnard came into the attack and struck twice in quick succession as Mark Wood (0) played back and was bowled and Chris Rushworth (9) fell to a low catch by Daryl Mitchell at second slip.
A lifter from Pat Brown ended a last wicket stand of 30 between Richardson and Graham Onions who gloved through to Mitchell.
Onions was given a guard of honour by his own players on his last appearance for Durham before sharing the new ball with Rushworth.
He enjoyed a success in his second over as Brett D’Oliveira (4) was lbw and Worcestershire reached lunch on 23-1.
