DURHAM snatched a last-ball victory against Surrey at Riverside when the visitors threw away wickets off the final two balls.

After making 266 for seven, Durham won by one run with Ian Blackwell taking the last two wickets after Surrey began the final over needing five runs with six wickets standing.

Grant Elliott, a New Zealand Test all-rounder, drove the fifth ball to mid-off and Jon Batty pulled the last one to Dale Benkenstein at deep mid-wicket. Mark Ramprakash was left unbeaten on 109.

Durham almost made a pig’s ear of their innings after choosing to bat, but yet again ex-skipper Benkenstein rode to the rescue.

After an opening stand of 89 on a pitch which demanded a total of at least 250 they slumped to 150 for six through a combination of poor shots and questionable umpiring.

Skipper Will Smith and Blackwell both had cause to feel disgruntled after being given out lbw by Steve Garratt and Vanburn Holder.

But Liam Plunkett, available because England Lions beat the West Indies in three days, helped to put on 69 by making 30 off 29 balls. Callum Thorp then chipped in with 20 not out off 12 balls, while Benkenstein was unbeaten on 77. Durham scored 84 off the last eight overs.

Garratt, who did not play first-class cricket, is in his second year on the full umpires list, while Holder is in his last as he will be 65 this year. He is one of several who provide a good case for umpires taking up the pipe and slippers at 60.

Riverside unveiled its impressive new screen, which doubles up as a scoreboard, but no replay of Blackwell’s dismissal was shown, possibly to spare Holder from embarrassment.

Surrey, who have made a poor start to the season, offered on initial threat as opening bowlers Chris Jordan and Jade Dernbach barely troubled Michael Di Venuto and Phil Mustard.

Chris Schofield and Scott Newman also dropped two easy catches, but Schofield atoned when Durham allowed themselves to be bamboozled by his leg spin.

Mustard reverse swept his second ball for four to reach 50 off 55 balls, but Schofield bowled straight through his ten overs to take two for 28.

He has always been a good appealer, and for most of his career he has needed to be. He probably works on the theory that if he shouts often enough some umpires will eventually give him something.

That seemed to be the case with Garratt as he had rejected a better appeal against Gordon Muchall before giving out Smith.

Di Venuto was out for 29 when he chopped a ball from Andre Nel, the aggressive South African, into his stumps and the next four wickets were shared by Schofield and off-spinning all-rounder Matthew Spriegel.