A magnificent century by 18-year-old Nicky Peng swept Durham to a stunning seven-wicket victory in the C and G Trophy yesterday.
They raced past Hampshire's daunting 50-over total of 262 for five with 9.4 overs to spare to register their first win against first-class opposition since 1992 in the premier knockout event.
If any heads were down after Hampshire thrashed 48 off the last three overs of their innings, Peng's was obviously not among them as he made 119.
Ten days after his maiden one-day hundred he batted even more imperiously to make the highest score by a Durham batsman in this event against first-class opposition, beating John Glendenen's 109 against Glamorgan at Darlington in 1991.
Peng said: "This was my most memorable innings for Durham because we were chasing a big score in an important match.
"I'm happiest going in first in one-day games because it helps me just to go in and play.
"Both Martin Love and I were hitting it quite well and when Alan Mullally went off we both hit a few fours and we could feel the crowd was with us.
"Martin was playing such good shots it took the pressure off me. He's very relaxed and has so much time. I have tried to learn from the way he just strokes the ball because sometimes I try to hit it too hard."
Peng went to his 110-ball century with a swept six off Dimitri Mascarenhas, while his 15 fours featured a number of blistering cover drives and some immaculately-timed clips through the leg side.
He was out with only 23 needed when he was bowled by Mullally after facing 128 balls.
After initial help from Love, whose 50 came off only 45 balls, Peng was able to relax towards the end of his innings as Paul Collingwood unleashed all the pent-up frustration of his three fruitless weeks with England.
He was almost contemptuous of his international one-day teammate Mullally as he drove successive balls for four and six to long-on in reaching 50 off 39 balls.
It was Collingwood who proved so costly at the end of the Hampshire innings, being entrusted with the 48th and 50th overs, both of which cost 19 runs, while Simon Brown was left with two overs unused.
"In hindsight it might have been the wrong decision," said skipper Jon Lewis.
He added: "I had kept two overs of Simon back to give me more options, but he's better in long spells than short.
"Normally Paul bowls well at the end of an innings. He was gutted by what happened and was particularly keen to make a contribution with the bat."
Collingwood more than made amends in his unbeaten 59, further underlining that Hampshire had left their charge too late on what they thought was a slow pitch.
It was, in fact, the pitch prepared for the washed out one-day international and was a far superior surface to anything Hampshire have produced for recent Durham visits.
There was a large measure of revenge in this comprehensive thrashing, which was Durham's first win against Hampshire in 16 games.
Durham's reward is a fourth-round trip to Bristol to play holders Gloucestershire on July 11, where they will doubtless find a pitch much less conducive to thrilling strokeplay.
The know they will have to match the hosts' tigerish efforts in the field and they did quite well yesterday with a depleted attack.
Johnson gave his only chance on 84 when Lewis parried a fierce drive above his head at extra cover but could not grasp the rebound, and Mascarenhas was missed at long-off by Brown during the final onslaught.
Otherwise the ground fielding was sharp and Durham tightened up well after Johnson and Robin Smith scored 37 between the 25th and 30th overs.
Nicky Hatch, back for a second spell, conceded only one off the 31st over, then had Smith and Will Kendall caught by Andrew Pratt. With both Derek Kenway and Lawrence Prittipaul running themselves out, no stand bigger than 53 developed as Hampshire slipped to 172 for five with 9.5 overs left.
Mascarenhas then put on 90 with Johnson, making his unbeaten 35 off 27 balls.
Durham took 11 off the first over from Mullally, Danny Law hitting two fours only to edge to slip off the first ball of Mullally's next over.
Durham then coasted to 44 after ten overs before Chris Tremlett replaced Mullally and Peng and Love matched each other shot for glorious shot as 56 came off five overs.
Love fell two balls after reaching his 50, stumped off a Shaun Udal ball which bounced steeply.
Collingwood kept the score moving as Peng was briefly tied down by Udal but then began to sweep him with great assurance and even added a lovely late cut to his repertoire before departing to a standing ovation. For everyone present it was an unforgettable innings on a great day for Durham.
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