Durham beat Surrey by an innings and 38 runs at Chester-le-Street to move off the foot of the County Championship Division One table.
They began the match 15 points adrift of Surrey but are now six ahead after the visitors emerged with only two points. They had one deducted for a slow over rate.
When Durham's over rate slipped to minus one they turned to spin for the first time in the match and Scott Borthwick took the last two wickets as Surrey were all out for 143.
Although the leg-spinner took some punishment, his 5.2 overs were sufficient to get Durham's rate back up to the required 16 an hour.
When Surrey resumed on 69 for five, nightwatchman Tim Linley fell to the sixth ball without addition to the total.
He was lbw to an in-swinger from Chris Rushworth and nine overs later left-handed opener Rory Burns finally departed, having faced 130 balls for his 39.
He fended a vicious lifter from Graham Onions towards first slip and Phil Mustard dived across to take the catch.
With the score on 104 for seven Durham brought on Borthwick and his first over cost 10 as Gareth Batty pulled and drove him to the boundary.
Batty and Matthew Spriegel put on 23 before the left-hander survived a big appeal for caught behind on 17, prompting Callum Thorp to bang the next ball in.
Spriegel shaped to hook but got a top edge and Ben Stokes ran back from third slip to dive forward and take a fine catch.
Borthwick had bowled four overs for 24 runs when he snared Jon Lewis, turning his leg break for Paul Collingwood to hold the edge at first slip.
Batty was last out for 22, pulling a catch straight to Mark Stoneman at deep mid-wicket.
Durham coach Geoff Cook said: "We have talked incessantly about tough conditions and you begin to wonder if you are making excuses.
"For this game we have had good weather and it was the best pitch we've had here this season, which was reflected in the batsmen's ability to stay in. The stand between Paul Collingwood and Dale Benkenstein swayed the issue.
"We have had two wins but the signs were good before that. We now have to win two more out of the last four to be safe."
