They will go up with a game to spare if Glamorgan fail to wrap up victory over Leicestershire on Thursday.

Even if the Welsh side win, Northants would need only four points from their final match at Gloucestershire to be promoted to the top tier.

Northants completed a 169-run win over Durham in just over 30 minutes on the fourth morning.

Resuming on 212-8 chasing a target of 402, the visitors were eventually bowled out for 232.

Brett Hutton (5-59) made the first breakthrough, trapping Matt Salisbury lbw, and Ben Sanderson removed last man Chris Rushworth without scoring, leaving Ned Eckersley stranded on 67 not out.

The defeat, Durham's fifth of the season, ended their chances of promotion.