When Mark Ramprakash swung Liam Plunkett over deep backward square leg to reach a superb 96-ball century with a six, the Brown Caps needed just sixteen runs off the last three overs with six wickets in hand to secure their first victory under Chris Adams. Even when that was shaved to two to win off the last two balls, few would have given Durham a chance. But with Grant Elliott being caught at mid-off and Jonathan Batty picking out Dale Benkenstein on the leg-side boundary the reigning county champions pulled off an incredible victory to open their Friends Provident account and to strike a further blow to Surrey's fragile confidence.

Durham would not have been in the hunt were it not for Benkenstein, who, earlier, appeared to be running out of partners when he was joined by Plunkett, at 150-6, in the 37th over. The former Dynamos skipper struck an undefeated 77 off 80 balls, which included an on driven six off Elliott in the 45th over and seven sweetly timed fours. His seventh wicket alliance with Plunkett brought the home side a vital 69 runs in nine overs.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Phil Mustard and Michael Di Venuto set a new record for Durham's opening stand against Surrey in one-day cricket; consigning Sherwin Campbell and John Morris's 56 at Stockton-on-Tees in 1996 to history. Had Mustard, who made an entertaining 61 in 75 deliveries, not had two moments of fortune on 31 and 52, Elliott or Nel would have made the breakthrough sooner.

After bringing up the fifty stand in the 11th over with a four over Chris Jordan at deep backward square leg, Di Venuto opted to play second fiddle. The 35-year-old left-hander was undone by Andre Nel in the 18th over, though not before his opening partner had launched Elliott straight down the ground for a maximum. Mustard reverse swept Schofield a couple of times for four, but then the former Lancashire and England leg-spinner applied the brakes with a brilliant ten over spell in which he picked up 2-28.

Durham lost three wickets in as many overs. In the 23rd, Schofield accounted for Gordon Muchall, bowled trying to force the pace. Mustard, sweeping, was then caught on the fence at backward square leg off Matthew Spriegel, and in the 25th over Will Smith, attempting to work Schofield to leg, was trapped leg before.

It was another seven overs before the next boundary hit. Ian Blackwell was LBW attempting a half-hearted reverse sweep and when Gareth Breese was caught behind off Elliott in the 37th over the home side would have settled for a total of 225. That they set the Brown Caps a target of 267 was thanks to Benkenstein, who batted out the innings, and sparkling cameos from Plunkett and Callum Thorp, who chipped in with an unbeaten 20 off twelve deliveries.

In reply, Surrey looked to be pacing their chase to perfection. Following the loss of Michael Brown in the thirteenth over, Scott Newman and Mark Ramprakash put on 109 in nineteen overs for the second wicket. In the 24th over, Newman brought up his half-century off 69 balls and seven overs later Ramprakash, who had launched Benkenstein over deep backward square for six, did likewise, taking just 53 deliveries.

In successive overs, Plunkett had Newman caught behind for 70 and Blackwell had Usman Afzaal trapped leg before for nought. But with Spriegel lending Ramprakash intelligent support the Brown Caps continued to show little cause for concern. The pair put on 52 in eleven overs. When Spriegel was caught behind off Stephen Harmison, Surrey were left needing 48 off the last six overs with Ramprakash at one end and Elliott, who has a batting average in one-day internationals of 52.62 at the other.

It was all going to plan until, with five needed off the final over, Smith recalled Blackwell to the attack. Ramprakash, whose hundred deserved to have been in a winning cause, collected two singles, but he was powerless to carry his side over the line as Elliott and Batty went aerial.

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