BREESE

CHESTER-LE-STREET, Durham, (CMC):

JAMAICAN ALL-ROUNDER Gareth Breese used a telling five-wicket performance to spur Durham to a 117-run victory over Derbyshire in their latest English Friends Provident Fund Trophy match.

After scoring 298 for seven off 50 overs at the Riverside Ground, Durham restricted Derbyshire to 181 all out in 37.5 overs to guarantee themselves a quarter-final spot in the tournament.

Derbyshire had made a fair start in their run-chase but Breese turned the North Division game for Durham as they scored an easy win to move to the top of the standings with 10 points.

They are one ahead of Yorkshire (nine), with Derbyshire slipping to third on eight points.

Fiery 138

Australian Michael Di Venuto propelled Durham's innings with a fiery 138 at better than run-a-ball rate.

Di Venuto reached 50 off 55 balls and 100 off 109 balls. He struck 19 boundaries in his 138 off 135 balls as he compiled a tournament record and his best ever one-day innings for Durham, while sharing in a 142-run second wicket stand with Will Smith (55). Breese scored nine not out.

When Derbyshire replied, John Sadler (46) and Steve Stubbings (33) led the scoring but off-spinner Breese removed them both and pushed Durham to victory.

The 32-year-old Breese, who played one Test match for West Indies in 2002 against India, finished with figures of five for 41 off nine overs with one maiden.