DURHAM fans are still waiting to witness a high-scoring floodlit match after watching a woeful batting display surrender division one status in the National League at the Riverside last night.

After the three-wicket defeat by new leaders Glamorgan, Durham can survive only by winning all three remaining games while Leicestershire lost all six of theirs.

Although Durham battled gamely in the field, hopes of building on Sunday's morale-boosting win at Grace Road were dashed during an 11-over slump which reached almost farcical proportions as they threw away an encouraging start.

The advantage of winning the toss on a sunny afternoon was squandered as they plummeted from 77 for one to 121 for eight and were all out for 161.

The absence of Martin Love and Paul Collingwood was hardly an excuse on a pitch which demanded a total of at least 220, nor was the bowling in any way unplayable.

There were two ridiculous run-outs, while Ashley Thorpe and Ian Hunter gently spooned up the sort of easy catches which would embarrass a Durham Senior League batsman. The whole sorry business climaxed with the run-out of skipper Jon Lewis, the only middle order batsman to match the quality of stroke offered by Michael Gough in his impressive 42.

Lewis had already responded to the suicidal call which brought Andrew Pratt's second ball dismissal, and he probably couldn't believe it when he received another one from Nicky Phillips. After initial hesitation, Lewis sacrificed himself and was out for 20. There was a danger it could be over before dusk for the crowd of over 3,000 until Mark Davies sensibly applied himself to make 14 not out and help to add 40 for the last two wickets.

Following Hunter's recent erratic offerings, Davies was also called on to open the bowling and had left-hander Ian Thomas caught at long leg. Robert Croft also got out carelessly, skying an attempted cut off Neil Killeen to Gary Pratt at point, and at 20 for two Matthew Maynard was missed off the accurate Davies by Andrew Pratt.

Maynard added 54 with Michael Powell before hoisting Phillips to long leg, but that merely brought in Steve James, a prolific scorer against Durham, and he instantly set about Hunter then drove Phillips over long-off for six.

Finding appreciable turn, Phillips troubled everybody else, but James showed all his skill and experience as he paddled the off spinner to fine leg, then ran him delicately to third man and scampered well-judged singles in making an unbeaten 55.

It proved a vital innings as the run-out of Powell for 39 prompted a mini-collapse to 132 for six, with Hunter improving enormously towards the end of his spell.

James was always in control, however, and saw his side home with 10.1 overs to spare. Despite Nicky Peng edging to wicketkeeper Mark Wallace for 14, things were going very well for Durham as Gough cashed in on the replacement of Australian Michael Kasprowicz by Darren Thomas.

Kasprowicz, returning after a hamstring injury, bowled six overs for 12 runs, but Thomas's first three went for 20.

The collapse started when Gough tried to run the ball to third man and edged to Wallace, sparking a spell of three for five in 14 balls for Thomas. Danny Law was shaping to put away a ball wide of off stump in Thomas's next over when it bounced steeply and took the edge on the way to Wallace.

Gary Pratt edged to Maynard at slip and the procession continued as Thorpe pulled left-arm spinner Dean Cosker to deep mid-wicket.

* Paul Collingwood has responded well to treatment on the trapped nerve in his neck and a decision on whether surgery is needed has been postponed for a week.

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