DURHAM fell disappointingly short yesterday after another exhilarating innings from Nicky Peng had given them every chance in the Norwich Union League second division top-of-the-table clash at Cardiff.

Glamorgan won by 24 runs to take over top spot on superior run-rate, and Durham will probably have to win both their remaining games, at home to Essex and Worcestershire, to gain promotion.

Chasing Glamorgan's 250 for nine, Durham were 149 for four when the peerless Peng was out for 92 in the 30th over.

Spinners Dean Cosker and Robert Croft had slowed him down slightly after his 51-ball half-century, and with Jimmy Daley coming in ahead of the big-hitting Danny Law Durham were under pressure when they needed 79 off the last ten overs.

The next two overs were productive as skipper Jon Lewis hit both spinners for four between long-on and mid-wicket to reach an excellent 50 off 63 balls.

But some blows of Law-like authority were required at this stage and with Daley dealing in ones and twos the pressure was mounting when Lewis played across the line and was lbw to seamer Andrew Davies for 57.

That brought in Law with 45 needed off five overs, which is feasible with two men well set but is asking too much with a new man at the crease.

Daley had made 32 off 39 balls with no fours when he was bowled off his pads by Davies two overs later with 30 still needed.

Graeme Bridge lasted three balls for nought, and when Law went for a risky single he was given run out by Vanburn Holder in what looked a very tight call.

That was the end for Durham and forlorn swipes saw them all out for 226 with one over left.

Following his three centuries, Peng now has Durham's four highest one-day scores this season and must now be considered a candidate for England's senior one-day side.

His powerful, text-book strokes were curbed only when trying to hit Cosker's left-arm spin through the leg side.

He managed one blistering boundary through square leg, but his next powerful connection ended in the hands of deep mid-wicket He had faced 103 balls and hit 11 fours as well as his six.

Durham did well to restrict Glamorgan after they chose to bat and scorched to 62 off the first seven overs through former Sussex player Keith Newell and 22-year-old left-hander Ian Thomas.

Law's first three overs cost 31 and in Stephen Harmison's fourth Newell cracked him for two fours inbetween three wides.

Harmison bowled eight wides in all, yet took four wickets in a one-day match for the first time, two of them coming in the 44th over as he and Paul Collingwood allowed Glamorgan only 11 runs off their last three overs.

Bowling for the first time for two weeks after a knee injury, Collingwood's eight overs for 40 runs at the end of the innings were invaluable as James Brinkley had gone off with a side injury.

It was just as well that Brinkley lasted long enough to make the breakthrough and put the brake on Glamorgan's flying start.

Trying to drive a straight ball through extra cover, Newell sliced it to Collingwood at backward point after making 32 off 31 balls.

It was obvious after the first ball of Brinkley's fourth over that he was in trouble, and after trying one more delivery he departed, which at least gave Marc Symington the chance to field after his long journey.

His travelling companion Nicky Phillips, back in the team after his hand injury, completed Brinkley's over and bowled eight more without success.

Both he and Law have been on nine wickets in this competition for some time, but amazingly in a successful campaign no Durham bowler has yet reached ten.

Once Glamorgan's opening stand of 73 ended Thomas went without addition, a fast edge off Harmison being well held by Martin Love at slip.

Durham put in a second slip for Love's fellow Queenslander Jimmy Maher and an edge off Harmison fell just short before he had scored.

But Love soon held a second catch off the paceman to see off Croft for four before Maher and Matthew Maynard shared a stand of 71.

Maynard played superbly against the spinners, running them to third man with a minimum of footwork and reverse sweeping them so fine that he was impossible to contain.

Left-hander Maher was trying to work Bridge's quicker ball to third man when he played on for 36.

A stand of 45 in seven overs between Maynard and Michael Powell was again threatening to propel Glamorgan to an unassailable total when Powell carelessly holed out at long-off with ten overs left.

Maynard went for 54 in the next over when a ball from Collingwood bounced more than he expected and he edged an intended cut to Andrew Pratt.

After the loss of those two wickets Glamorgan's return from the last ten overs was at least 20 fewer than they would have hoped for.

Collingwood almost had Darren Thomas several times before Harmison forced him to play on and the innings died away when Adrian Dale skied a catch to point.

Pratt launched the reply by swinging Davies over mid-wicket for four, but when he swung across an in-swinger from Owen Parkin in the second over he missed and was bowled.

Even with Love as his partner, Peng was so dominant he was on 32 when Durham reached 50 after eight overs and he then drove Parkin for a magnificent straight six.

But Darren Thomas replaced Davies to produce the best spell of the match. He nipped one back to bowl Love for 11 then breached Collingwood's defences to leave Durham on 81 for three.

Those two wickets were crucial as they left a lot of pressure on Lewis, and despite his best efforts the loss of Peng left him with too much to do.