Durham won their first Championship title as English cricket's newest county held their nerve on the final day of the season.

Durham, who played their inaugural first-class match 16 years ago, routed Kent by an innings and 71 runs at Canterbury to snatch the Division One crown ahead of Nottinghamshire, who were strong favourites at the start of the final round of matches but lost their game at home to Hampshire.

Kent, battling against relegation, managed to take the contest well into the final day at the St Lawrence Ground thanks to a century stand for the sixth wicket between Justin Kemp and Ryan McLaren.

But once the two South Africans' resistance was broken, Durham knew they were closing on victory.

When Notts' defeat was finally confirmed, Durham could finally celebrate taking the title by eight points.

Click on the links for our writers' session-by-session reports direct from the grounds.

Click here for all of yesterday's session reports.

Day four

LV County Championship - Division One

Kent v Durham, Canterbury

Nottinghamshire v Hampshire, Trent Bridge

Somerset v Lancashire, Taunton