A REMARKABLE century by Ryan Pringle provided Durham's only resistance as they slumped to a seven-wicket defeat in yesterday's Royal London Cup tie at Derby.

Going in at 58 for six after they were put in on a sultry afternoon, Pringle made 125 to take the final total to 216.

But losing the toss for the fifth successive game proved costly for Mark Stoneman as batting continued to become easier following the 2pm start.

Derbyshire's reply got off to a cracking start with Chris Rushworth conceding 29 in three overs and they cruised to their target with 50 balls to spare. Ben Slater, a 24-year-old left-hander from Chesterfield, made 119 before perishing when trying to hit the winning runs.

While Gordon Muchall was scoring a century for the second team against Worcestershire at Stourbridge, the inconsistencies of Durham's top order continued.

They returned to Friday's dismal T20 form at Leicester after amassing 340 for six in the opening 50-over match on Sunday.

Durham should scarcely have been quaking in their boots against a seam attack featuring Nottinghamshire reject Andy Carter, plus Staffordshire products Ben Cotton and Alex Hughes.

They were supported by the medium pace of former Leicestershire all-rounder Shiv Thakor and the leg spin of 19-year-old Matt Critchley.

But only Pringle got to grips with the ball moving around in the humid conditions, thrashing his second 50 off 37 balls as he ran out of partners.

He put on 62 for the eighth wicket with Usman Arshad, who looked unlucky to be adjudged lbw for 15, and 62 in 6.1 overs for the last wicket with Rushworth, who was left unbeaten on three.

Pringle's century came off 86 balls and all four of his sixes were smitten after he had reached a carefully constructed 50.

He survived a sharp return chance to Critchley on 31, but otherwise made a mockery of his team-mates' efforts as he surged well beyond his previous one-day best of 35.

Durham were left with 3.3 overs unused when Pringle was bowled by Carter, but they would be mightily relieved to get so far after the early collapse.

While Stoneman raced to 22, Phil Mustard had faced only three balls when he left a delivery from Cotton which moved sharply in to hit the off stump.

Without addition Stoneman slapped a catch to point then Graham Clark was equally culpable in miscuing to mid-wicket.

Scott Borthwick edged Thakor's sixth ball to slip and three balls later Paul Collingwood was lbw to Cotton, whose first spell read 7-1-10-2.

The 22-year-old from Stoke didn't present quite such a threat in the 42nd over, which cost 14 as Pringle smashed him for four and six.

The No 8 would doubtless have welcomed longer support from Keaton Jennings, who played nicely for 14 before being caught off a reverse sweep in Critchley's first over.

That was Durham's nadir, leaving them on 75 for seven, a position from which even Pringle's magnificent effort could not rescue them.

Once Derbyshire had made their flying start Durham were powerless to get back into the game as their hectic three-week tour of the Midlands took its toll.

Slater reached 50 off 47 balls and took the total to 105 before opening partner Billy Godleman flashed wide of off stump at Arshad and edged to Mustard.

Following his 74-ball hundred against Worcestershire, Hamish Rutherford was beaten twice in two balls when Rushworth returned and runs dried to a trickle.

Rutherford fell for 18 to a stunning left-handed catch by Arshad at wide mid-on, but Wayne Madsen helped Slater to pick off the remaining runs.