PAUL COLLINGWOOD continued his remarkable form by following his maiden Twenty20 century with his second highest score in the format as Durham beat Yorkshire by one run last night.

The biggest crowd of the season at Emirates Riverside, 6,512, witnessed a night of drama as Yorkshire just failed to make the ten runs they needed off the last over, bowled by Usman Arshad.

It came down to three off the last ball, but Azeem Rafiq could not make contact and they had to settle for a bye, finishing on 156 for seven in reply to 157 for three.

After the previous night's defeat by Derbyshire, which saw them slip to fourth in the group, this was another big setback for Yorkshire's bid to reach the quarter-finals.

Following his unbeaten 108 at Worcester on Sunday, which proved in vain, this time Collingwood's 88 not out was just enough to allow Durham to complete their second win and clear their deficit in the NatWest T20 Blast.

It speaks volumes for Collingwood's dedication that he is prepared to defy his 41 years and Durham's hopeless position in this competition to try to keep them competitive.

He appeared to be limping from early in his 54-ball innings, but his seven fours and two sixes provided nearly all the strokes of authority in an innings which would have foundered without him.

Michael Richardson contributed 32 to an unbroken stand of 86, and from 68 for three after ten overs Durham did well to set a competitive target.

While Liam Plunkett failed a fitness test on his hamstring, Tom Latham was passed fit to make his Durham debut and after an opening wide from David Willey the New Zealand left-hander turned the second ball behind square for four.

But he added only five runs before chipping a return catch to Tim Bresnan, bringing in Collingwood at 11 for one in the third over.

He opened up by driving Matthew Fisher to the cover boundary then fetched Willey from outside off stump for four in front of mid-wicket.

Graham Clark saw little of the strike and grew frustrated, swinging across the line to be bowled for three by Willey off the last ball of the fifth over.

Arshad was sent in at four and cross-batted Bresnan over extra cover for four but looked less assured when Adil Rashid came on and conceded only two off the seventh over.

With Azeem making it an all-spin attack, Arshad was unable to do the job he had been sent in for and Collingwood had to break the shackles by lifting Rashid over long-on for six.

Arshad managed a streaky four off a rustic swipe at Rashid but never threatened to do real damage and was bowled for 19 in the 11th over when he stepped across and tried to lift Willey behind square.

This is the point at which most teams can call on powerful big-hitters, so Richardson's arrival would be unlikely to have Yorkshire quaking, even though he has done well against them in proper cricket.

Collingwood atoned by putting every ounce of his being into a huge heave over mid-wicket off Fisher, followed by a reverse paddle to third man to reach 50 off 33 balls.

Richardson faced three dot balls off Steve Patterson in the 17th over, but did manage an edged four before Collingwood set about Rafiq, with 14 coming off the over.

Patterson and Bresnan kept it reasonably tight in the final two and Yorkshire looked like coasting it when Adam Lyth and Tom Kohler-Cadmore launched the reply with 35 off the first four overs.

The ex-Worcestershire man drove Barry McCarthy for a huge straight six, but the Irishman had both openers caught at third man off successive balls to give Durham hope.

There was a third wicket for McCarthy when Sarfaraz Ahmed miscued to mid-wicket, but Yorkshire remained favourites until Willey hoisted Coughlin to deep mid-wicket to depart for 40.

Things turned again for Coughlin when Jack Leaning smashed him to mid-wicket for six and four in the 19th over, but he then lifted a catch to mid-wicket to set up the thrilling final over.

*Matthew Potts has signed a three-year contract with Durham after showing outstanding promise since breaking into the first team this season.

The seam bowler from Sunderland has recently been on England Under 19 duty and took four wickets in his maiden Test against India last month.

“I’m delighted to have signed a professional contract and grateful that Durham have given me the opportunity to play for my home club,” he said.

Coach Jon Lewis said: “It’s brilliant to see another Academy product earn a professional deal. Matty will play a big part in Durham’s future success.”