Durham went to the top of the Norwich Union League second division when they beat third-placed Hampshire by 17-runs under the Duckworth/Lewis method at Chester-le-Street tonight.

A third wicket stand of 166 in 28 overs between Martin Love and Paul Collingwood set up Durham's third successive NUL total of over 250.

Jason Laney's dashing 38 took Hampshire to 61 without loss after only eight overs, but once Nicky Hatch had him lbw they gradually subsided to 188 for six after 38 overs when rain arrived, and suffered their second successive defeat.

Durham chose to bat and slipped to 29 for two as Nicky Peng and Andrew Pratt failed to repeat the heroics of their first two partnerships in this competition.

After putting on 102 against Worcestershire and 128 against Derbyshire, both fell within the first eight overs.

But the third wicket pair matched each other stroke for stroke, both scoring at roughly a run-a-ball.

Love's 89 was his highest one-day score for Durham, while Collingwood fell two short of his best when he was out for 84.

With Alan Mullally on England duty, Dimitri Mascarenhas was the only bowler to pose problems and he finished with two for 31 from his nine overs.

Giles White showed his nerve by holding two catches late in the innings, when he was booed by a section of the 5,000 crowd who felt he touched the rope when catching Jon Lewis. With the Sky cameras present the third umpire was able to uphold the catch.

White then anchored Hampshire's reply with a steady 50, but when he was stumped Hampshire were 133 for five in the 28th over.

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