DURHAM created a good chance to inject some momentum into their dismal season in the CB 40 League match at the Oval yesterday, only to stumble to defeat by 60 runs.

If they are not already looking for an overseas spinner to boost their Twenty20 squad, they might be encouraged to do so by an injury to Gareth Breese.

He collapsed in agony as he set off for a single and had to be stretchered off after tearing a calf muscle, which will keep him out for several weeks.

Even though Durham allowed holders Surrey to plunder 62 runs off their last six overs to reach 221 for seven, it looked a very reachable target.

But once Ben Stokes’ all-too- brief cameo was ended by his own impetuosity Durham gradually fell behind the required rate and when they tried to accelerate they lost wickets.

Although Phil Mustard miscued to mid-off for one, it looked like being a stroll for Durham when Stokes raced to 20 off the first 12 balls he faced, which included a six over backward square leg off Stuart Meaker.

But after adding two more runs Stokes, not for the first time this season, was betrayed by his impatience.

He tried to blast off-spinner Matthew Spriegel into the stratosphere and was bowled.

Mark Stoneman had also started well, but he too fell to Spriegel for 29. Working to leg, he appeared to overbalance as Steve Davies whipped off the bails. But the left-hander had apparently edged the ball to the keeper anyway.

Paul Collingwood and Gordon Muchall consolidated with a stand of 61 in 15 overs. But with 103 needed off 13 Collingwood was bowled for 32 when trying to sweep experienced off-spinner Gareth Batty and Durham’s hopes disappeared with their acting captain.

Will Smith got an inside edge into his stumps and Muchall holed out for 41 as the pressure built.

The target was 83 off eight when Breese’s part in proceedings suffered its painful end and what had threatened to be a tight game limped to an unexciting finish.

Meaker finished it by bowling Graham Onions and Mitch Claydon with successive balls and Durham were all out for 161.

Claydon threatened to be a hero for Durham, but after initially throttling Surrey by removing their top three he came under fire in their late onslaught.

He had three for 20 after his firstfourovers,butfinishedwith three for 57 as the last six overs of the innings yielded 62 runs.

Liam Plunkett, whose first four excellent overs cost 12 runs, had just conceded only a single off the 34th when Collingwood recalled Claydon and Onions when the batting powerplay was taken.

Surrey were 159 for five with six overs left, but left-handed all-rounder Zafar Ansari, a Cambridge student, lofted both bowlers over the short leg-side boundary on his way to an unbeaten 60 off 55 balls.

Onions, released for the game by England, finished with one for 55 in seven overs after conceding 28 in his opening four-over burst. Claydon prevented Surrey from roaring out of the blocks after winning the toss.

Steve Davies had already stepped away to carve a four over the off side when he tried it again and edged to Mustard, then Rory Hamilton-Brown drove at a ball which removed his off stump.

Jason Roy hit the first two balls of the eighth over for four but Claydon found some extra bounce with the third and had him caught behind.

The dangerous top three had hit eight fours between them, but only six boundaries came off the next 26 overs before 20-year-old Ansari opened the throttle.

After coming together at 47 for three, Maynard and Zander de Bruyn settled for consolidation, putting on 58 in 13 overs.

That included eight off Scott Borthwick’s first over, but he and Breese struck in successive overs to keep the brakes on.

Breese clipped de Bruyn’s off stump when the batsman tried to work him to leg then Borthwick turned one to hit left-hander Spriegel’s leg stump and bowled straight through his eight overs to finish with one for 40.

At 106 for five Surrey were struggling but Tom Maynard and Zafari belied their tender years by sensibly keeping the score ticking over without going for big shots. They had put on 85 in 15 overs when Maynard fell for 77, driving Onions to Borthwick at cover.

It was the only success Durham enjoyed in the last 18 overs until Batty was run out off the final ball.

SCORECARD

Surrey v Durham
At The Kia Oval

Surrey
R J Hamilton-Brown b Claydon 14
S M Davies c Mustard b Claydon 14
J J Roy c Mustard b Claydon 15
T L Maynard c Borthwick b Onions 77
Z de Bruyn b Breese 22
M N Spriegel b Borthwick 0
Z S Ansari not out 60
G J Batty run out 5
Extras (lb4 w8 nb2 pens 0) 14
Total 7 wkts Innings Complete (40
overs) 221
Fall: 1-25 2-32 3-47 4-105 5-106 6-191
7-221
Did Not Bat: J Lewis, S C Meaker, J W Dernbach.
Bowling: Onions 7-0-55-1. Claydon 8-0-58-
3. Plunkett 6-1-20-0. Breese 7-0-29-1.
Borthwick 8-0-40-1. Collingwood 4-0-15-0.

Durham
M D Stoneman c S M Davies b Spriegel 29
P Mustard c Roy b Dernbach 1
A K Allert st S M Davies b Spriegel 22
G J Muchall c Maynard b Batty 41
P D Collingwood b Batty 32
W R Smith b Dernbach 3
G R Breese retd hurt 8
L E Plunkett not out 11
S G Borthwick run out 3
G Onions b Meaker 8
M E Claydon b Meaker 0
Extras (lb1 w2 pens 0) 3
Total (35.4 overs) 161
Fall: 1-15 2-46 3-59 4-120 5-125 6-133
7-144 8-161 9-161
Bowling: Dernbach 6-1-36-2. Meaker 5.4-0-
27-2. Spriegel 4-0-14-2. Lewis 6-0-22-0.
Ansari 6-0-26-0. Batty 8-0-35-2.

Surrey beat Durham by 60 runs