Lewis trumps Croft to earn victory for Durham

Robert Croft's all-round efforts for Glamorgan were upstaged by Durham skipper Jon Lewis at Chester-le-Street today.

Both teams went into the match with only one defeat in the Norwich Union League second division, but in a low-scoring game early leaders Durham stayed ahead of their visitors as they edged home by two wickets with nine balls to spare.

Lewis finished unbeaten on 46 in a match in which Croft, with 67, was the only other batsman to pass 30.

On a rain-affected pitch, Croft batted at number three and rescued Glamorgan from 15 for four, putting on 93 in 19 overs for the fifth wicket with Michael Powell before wickets tumbled again and Glamorgan were all out for 145 in 40.2 overs.

Durham slipped to ten for three in reply, then as they threatened a recovery Croft nipped in with two for 27 in nine overs.

Croft's England one-day teammate Paul Collingwood took three for 21 then blasted three sixes in a cameo innings of 25.

But he was caught on the square leg boundary attempting a fourth and as Durham stumbled to 98 for seven Lewis was left trying to shepherd his young seam bowlers towards the target.

With four leading bowlers ruled out, Durham brought in 20-year-old Mark Davies for his fourth one-day appearance in three years and he contributed 10 to a stand of 30 with Lewis.

With eight needed off three overs, Croft blotted his copybook by dropping Steve Harmison on four off Owen Parkin at slip and Harmison scored the winning runs to finish on 11 not out.