Kent v Durham day four

Kent's exclusive eight-year tenure in the LV Championship top flight came to an end in Canterbury on Saturday as Durham took the hosts last five wickets in 72 minutes to wrap up victory and a likely maiden championship title with an innings and 71-run win.

Seamer Callum Thorp was the Durham hero with 7-88 while England paceman Steve Harmison polished off the tail with 3-0 in four balls to inflict the defeat that sends Kent into Division 2 for the first time.

Ryan McLaren offered the only serious Kentish resistance with an unbeaten 65 as Kent lost their last five wickets for 45 inside 17 overs.

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Video: Kent skipper Rob Key speaks to kmfm's Adam Williams

Justin Kemp reached a 57-ball half-century at the start of the day with six fours and a six but, only 12 balls and one four later, Kemp drove ambitiously at a Thorp delivery only to pick out Dale Benkenstein, who took a low catch at gully.

The dismissal also ended Kemp's excellent sixth-wicket stand with Ryan McLaren that added 107 runs in 24 overs and gave Thorp the first six wickets to fall.

McLaren, who then moved to his second half-century of the summer from 90 balls and with 10 fours, duly passed his season's best of 57 (scored against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge in May).

But soon after, Yasir Arafat's 10-over stay for 18 ended when he edged to Michael Di Venuto at second slip to give Australian-born Thorp a career-best seven-wicket haul.

Harmison ruined Thorp's hopes of bagging all 10 when he plucked out James Tredwell's off stump as the left-hander shouldered arms to go for a fourth-ball duck.

In his next over, Harmison had Robbie Joseph (0) caught at second slip then, with his next delivery, he pegged back Martin Saggers' middle and off stumps to send the Durham side into jubilation and Kent into Division 2.

*** Click here to view a live match scorecard on the cricinfo website ***