LIAM Plunkett returned to haunt Durham today, taking three for 40 as his former team-mates were restricted to 224 for seven in 43 overs in the Royal London Cup tie at home to Yorkshire.

The match was shortened after rain delayed the start by 75 minutes and after being put in Durham again lacked a major contribution.

Graham Clark batted impressively for 42 at a run-a-ball but spoilt his effort by resorting to slogging with ten overs left. He skied a catch to point to give Plunkett his third wicket.

With only 13 on the board after five overs, Mark Stoneman picked up successive balls from Tim Bresnan over the leg side for six and four. The next ball was a slower one outside off stump and Stoneman steered a low catch to Glenn Maxwell at backward point.

The Durham captain, who scored a match-winning century in last year's quarter-final at Headingley, departed with an angry swish of the bat.

Steve Patterson, accurate as ever, conceded only ten in his opening five-over spell before making way for Matthew Fisher, whose first two overs were equally frugal as Phil Mustard and Scott Borthwick tried to build a partnership.

The youngster might have had Mustard on 21, when a fierce pull went straight in and out of Alex Lees' hands at short mid-wicket.

Fisher then began to leak runs, while Plunkett's back-of-a-length bowling round the wicket to the left-handers proved very effective. He conceded only six runs in his first three overs then removed both.

Mustard was caught behind when trying to steer to third man and Borthwick, also on 32, attempted an ambitious whip from off stump, only to sky it straight to deep mid-wicket.

Paul Collingwood had a big let-off on three when he gave Adil Rashid the charge and skied to mid-off, where Fisher dropped a sitter.

The batsman celebrated by driving the leg-spinner for six and four in his next over, while Clark saw off Plunkett with a well-timed drive wide of mid-on followed by leg glance for another four.

Will Rhodes replaced Plunkett and Collingwood failed with two attempts to paddle him round the corner before sallying down the pitch again to be stumped off Rashid for 17.

Clark was next to go and it wasn't until Ryan Pringle also skied a catch after making a useful 30 that Durham sent in John Hastings with 4.3 overs left.

Patterson, bowling as wide of off stump as he dared, conceded one wide before having Hastings caught behind.

Gordon Muchall remained unbeaten on 35, gathered as usual through good, orthodox strokes.