DALE Benkenstein's determination that Durham's brilliant start to the season will not wane during his captaincy tenure saw them widen their lead to six points at the top of totesport League second division yesterday.

In a match reduced to 39 overs-a-side, Benkenstein took four for 17 as Derbyshire were dismissed for 82 at Riverside, then Gordon Muchall and Gary Pratt set up a five-wicket win with a stand of 40.

In his first appearance of the season, Pratt went in with Durham wobbling on 36 for four and scampered a risky first-ball single, which also brought an overthrow and seemed to change the game.

From that point the batsmen took charge, with Derbyshire's change bowlers posing little threat after Kevin Dean bowled straight through his eight overs.

Muchall continued his good form and Pratt played several well-timed off-side strokes off front and back foot. The urgency of his running and his sharpness in the field further underlined his claim for a run in the one-day side.

Muchall looked unhappy to be given out caught behind for 26 with seven needed, while Pratt remained unbeaten on 23.

The visitors equalled the lowest total made against Durham in the one-day league, made by themselves at Riverside last season.

It is amazing how often conditions seem to favour the bowlers when Derbyshire visit and yesterday was no exception. But they batted so poorly it was impossible to believe they had knocked Durham out of the C & G Trophy six weeks ago.

Playing a one-day match on a cold, showery Monday which is not a Bank Holiday is not guaranteed to generate a buzzing atmosphere.

After the start was delayed, initially reducing the contest to 43 overs a side, a further half hour was lost after seven balls had been bowled. Any potential for excitement had ebbed away and the Derbyshire batsmen seemed to have lost all interest.

They were without their Durham-born talisman Graeme Welch, who developed back and Achilles injuries after scoring a century and taking five wickets against Essex two weeks ago.

Derbyshire without Welch is like chips without fish and even their Tasmanian, Michael di Venuto, never looked like making his usual bundle against Durham. He had made only four when he tried to hit Neil Killeen over mid-wicket in the seventh over and skied the ball just short of third man.

Opening partner Chris Bassano had already fallen lbw to Ashley Noffke, who then had James Bryant caught at the wicket.

It was the first of four victims for Phil Mustard, who also made amends for failing to stump former Yorkshire player Andy Gray by hurling the ball down to the other end to run him out.

Benkenstein brought himself on at 33 for two after 12 overs and took two wickets in his first over. Di Venuto failed to pierce the field off a long hop wide of off stump and when the next ball was similar he seemed in two minds. After a minor readjustment he spooned a simple return catch. Skipper Luke Sutton went two balls later, edging to Gareth Breese at second slip.

Australian Jon Moss took two fours off Mark Davies' opening over on his way to the top score of 18, which also included off and on-drives for four off successive balls in Benkenstein's third over.

But two balls later he was lured out of his crease by an in-swinger which just missed leg stump, and Mustard had time to miss the stumps with his first sweep of the gloves and still complete the stumping.

Two more wickets fell with the score on 54, with Durham's C & G nemesis, Ant Botha, groping forward and edging Davies to Mustard before Nick Walker was lbw first ball to Benkenstein, recklessly trying to hit over the top.

Gray put on 24 with Mo Sheikh, taking the total to 78 before the Australian was run out then ex-Durham man Ian Hunter went first ball on Noffke's return, edging to Mustard. Sheikh was last out, shaping to cut Nathan Astle and chopping the ball into his stumps.

The home top order men found it no easier against left-armer Dean, who has often bowled well in Durham. He swung one in to have Jon Lewis lbw, then Nicky Peng shaped to drive one slanted across him and edged to slip to make it eight for two.

Astle hit three fours in the tenth over off Sheikh, only to go for a big hit in the ex-Warwickshire man's next over and slice to third man.

Benkenstein fell to Moss's first ball, which was such a slow loosener he was into his drive too early and lobbed to extra cover.