Collingwood ton gets Durham defence going

Paul Collingwood made his List A best score of 132 as Durham got the defence of their Royal London Cup title off to the perfect start with a 54-run win over Northamptonshire at Wantage Road. Skipper Collingwood's 85-ball century led Durham to 313 for 8 - their highest List A total against Northamptonshire - and gave his bowlers plenty to defend.

Richard Levi and Ben Duckett, who made his first half-century in 50-over cricket, gave game chase with a stand of 125 for the sixth wicket but, ultimately, Durham's early burst, reducing Northants to 37 for 4, proved critical.

Chris Rushworth struck three times in seven balls, first having Josh Cobb caught by John Hastings retreating from midwicket, then bowling Adam Rossington as he tried to pull a ball too full for the stroke, while Alex Wakely was cleaned up for a golden duck after shouldering arms.

After the Levi-Duckett recovery, Hastings returned to have Levi bowled for 87 and, in the same over, also bowled Steven Crook. Rushworth removed Northants' last hope when Rory Kleinveldt holed out on 69 to deep midwicket to finish with 4 for 41, before the hosts were all out for 259 in 46.2 overs.

The bowling effort was ample reward for Collingwood's fine innings. Durham were also in a sticky spot earlier on as they batted first having lost the toss. Azharullah struck twice in two overs to reduce Durham to 72 for 3 but Collingwood counterattacked, advancing down the wicket to lift Azharullah over extra-cover and also taking Rob Keogh down the ground for four.

He shared a a healthy stand of 61 for the fourth wicket with Phil Mustard, who was dropped on six by Olly Stone at first slip and cashed in on the chance with a 63-ball half-century. But having heaved a Crook slower ball over midwicket for his eighth boundary, Mustard was beaten outside off, fell out of his ground and was very smartly stumped by Duckett.

It ended the stand where progress was at above a run a ball to leave Durham at 133 for 4. But Gordon Muchall proved a game partner for Collingwood and the pair ensured there was no delay in rebuilding the score.

Running well between the wickets, they added 92 for the fifth wicket before Muchall fell to the last ball of the 40th over for 45 trying to lift the final ball of David Willey's spell over mid-off.

It left Durham 225 for 5 as the final 10 overs began and Collingwood immediately stepped across his stumps to paddle Crook to the long-leg boundary and slapped Azharullah's second ball back into the attack just over the head of Crook at mid-off.

Collingwood was closing in on a 10th List A hundred but needed an outrageous missed run-out from Azharullah to get there. Playing back to the bowler with his partner, Ryan Pringle, backing up a long way, Collingwood decided to run and passed his partner as Azharullah turned to remove the non-striker's bails and run Collingwood out. But for reasons unknown, Azharullah turned and threw at the striker's end and Collingwood was saved - with Pringle run out.

Collingwood added another 39 runs in 16 balls as 88 came from the final 10 overs, proving more than enough for Durham.