Durham retain County Championship

Sep 14, 2009

Graham Onions made an early mark with five wickets against Yorkshire•Getty Images

Dale Benkenstein made 181 against Somerset and made important runs throughout the season•Getty Images

Steve Harmison's best performance of the season was 6 for 20 against Nottinghamshire•PA Photos

...and also took plenty of wickets, with a career-best 7 for 85 against Lancashire and 5 for 7 against Somerset•Getty Images

Liam Plunkett wasn't in the team at the start of the season, but played a key role in the Championship success•Getty Images

Durham remove Michael Vaughan during the first game for the season but couldn't quite force victory•Getty Images

Graham Onions helped skittle Somerset for 69 to lay an early marker for the season•Getty Images

Graham Onions enjoyed a prolific season when he wasn't needed for England duty•Getty Images

Shivnarine Chanderpaul returned to Durham late in the season and made hundreds against Somerset and Nottinghamshire•Getty Images

Mark Davies removes Ali Brown, the wicket that effectively secured the Championship•PA Photos

England didn't often want Steve Harmison, and Durham were happy to have him back•Getty Images

Ian Blackwell bolstered Somerset's middle order with a number of important innings, including 158 against Warwickshire...•Getty Images

Michael Di Venuto hit 219 against Nottinghamshire in a record opening stand of 314•Getty Images

PA Photos