Elsewhere in the Sainsbury's Grand Prix, Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim gained the edge over his high jump rival, Ukraine's Bohdan Bondarenko, winning on countback after both men had cleared an Alexander Stadium record of 2.38 metres, and Kenya's Olympic 800m champion David Rudisha won the 600m in 1min 13.71sec, just missing the world's best mark of 1:12.81 set in 1986 by Johnny Gray of the United States.

Sharp, who has won Commonwealth and European medals this month with bold and tactically astute performances, moved outside the Kenyan gold medallist of last year to outsprint her down the final straights, finishing in 1:59.14.

Farah, who won the 10,000 and 5,000m double at this month's European Championships in Zurich after illness had delayed his start to the season, put in an obvious maximum of effort as he ran alone over the final two laps to clock a time of 8:07.85, thus eclipsing the time of 8:13.51 set in 1978 by Steve Ovett, two years before he won Olympic 800m gold.

Lynsey Sharp (left) puts it all together in the final straight at the Alexander Stadium to beat Kenya's world champion Eunice Sum (right) ©Getty Images

But there was disappointment for the home crowd when Greg Rutherford could finish no higher than fourth in a very close long jump, the reigning Olympic, Commonwealth and European champion reaching only 8.04m.

London 2012 Olympic Games triple jump champion Christian Taylor snatched victory in the sixth round by one centimetre from South Africa's Zarck Visser with 8.09m wth China's Li Jinzhe third with 8.06m.

The rivalry between Barshim, the world indoor champion,and Bondarenko, who won the world outdoor title in Moscow last season and added European gold this month, has been one of the keynotes of the athletics season.

Barshim had beaten Bondarenko in Rome when he leapt 2.41m but Bondarenko came out on top in their astonishing competition in New York when both cleared 2.42m and the latter won again in Monaco before his European win in Zurich.

But victory here means Barshim will go into their final Diamond League meeting of the season, in Brussels on September 5, trailing by just four points, with eight points on offer for victory in the climax to the year.

"I'm happy I got the win which is all that matters," said Barshim

"It's the battle they are all talking about: Barshim versus Bondarenko.

"I've got a lot of competitions coming up so there is a lot to still compete for."

Mutaz Essa Barshim, Qatar's world indoor champion, en route to a victory on countback over rival Bohdan Bondarenko which keeps the overall Diamond Race open between them this season ©Getty Images

Grenada's Olympic and Commonwealth 400m champion Kirani James produced a strong finish to win in 44.59, with Britain's European champion Martyn Rooney third in 45.25.

Another Commonwealth champion, Kaliese Spencer of Jamaica, repeated her Glasgow 400m hurdles victory over Britain's Eilidh Child, who has subsequently earned European gold, clocking 53.80 to the Scottish athlete's 54.89.

Spencer's Jamaican team-mate Nickel Ashmeade, the Commonwealth 100m bronze medallist, held off Alonso Edward of Panama to win the men's 200m in 20.33. Edward clocked 20.35, with Commonwealth champion Rasheed Dwyer third.

In the men's 3,000m steeplechase, Kenya's rising talent Jairus Kipchoge Birech earned his third Diamond League victory of the season, clocking 8:07.80 after coming to a halt a the last hurdle, which he required to vault over using his hand.

Colombia's Caterine Ibarguen clinched overall victory in the triple jump with her fifth Diamond League win thanks to an effort of 14.52m.

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