DURHAM'S deeply overdrawn NatWest account plunged further into the red when they were badly caught out by an unsatisfactory Riverside pitch yesterday.

Going out of the NatWest Trophy in Holland last season was embarrassing, but there was even greater disappointment in losing by five wickets to Hampshire with a quarter-final place beckoning.

The pitch, which had had no chance to dry, was totally unsuitable for a high-profile one-day game, and it was a reflection of the conditions that extras were easily the top scorer for both sides.

Durham paid for two flawed decisions. The first was to bat - they were all out for 91 - and the second was to give Steve Harmison three overs in the middle of Hampshire's reply, which effectively handed them victory as they cost 34 runs.

Otherwise, Hampshire found batting almost as difficult as Durham and they had more than their share of luck. But with the pressure relieved by Harmison's profligacy, they eased home with skipper Robin Smith making 23 not out.

Durham persist with the notion that because of his pace Harmison might knock over a top-order batsman at any time. But he showed in the Benson & Hedges quarter-final that he is nowhere near ready for big one-day occasions, and given his shin problems Durham should surely leave him out of this form of cricket.

With only one NatWest Trophy win against a first-class county since joining their ranks in 1992, Durham squandered a glorious opportunity to reach their second quarter-final.

Nick Speak won the toss for only the fifth time in 22 competitive matches this season, but soon had cause to regret his decision to bat and was finally left stranded with the top score of 15 not out, made off 80 balls.

"It was a team decision," he said. "We feel more comfortable batting first. There was obviously a temptation to put them in, and I probably made the wrong decision. I have to live and die by that.

"It was a poor pitch to be playing a game like this on. You never quite know what you are going to get here.

"The groundsman has the devil's own job. When the wickets dry out they are very unpredictable, so he has to leave some moisture in to hold it together. This one was watered on Saturday, but it never had the chance to dry.

On the subject of Harmison, Speak added: "We have a guy who is on the verge of playing for England. He has to keep bowling and we have to back him. Unfortunately, he dragged a few down and you can't afford that with only 90 on the board."

Durham recorded their second lowest total in the premier knockout event, behind the 82 made against Worcestershire in 1968 at the Chester-le-Street club ground.

There were 29 extras in the total as the return to the unpredictable surfaces at headquarters brought a depressing return to earth after the run feast at Feethams last week.

Durham took the surprising decision to open with Michael Gough and Muazam Ali, both 20, the one playing his first senior game of the season and the other with only four one-day innings and two balls in first-class cricket behind him.

As it happened, the youngest opening pair Durham have fielded shared the biggest stand of 25 and also scored more briskly than their seniors before Gough was out in the ninth over for ten, very well caught by wicketkeeper Adrian Aymes.

Simon Katich struggled for 37 balls to make four before edging a drive at Alan Mullally to the wicketkeeper.

Hampshire had little need of Shane Warne and it was a surprise when they brought him on as their seamers had reduced Durham to 52 for five, Dimitri Mascarenhas bowling straight through his ten overs at the start for figures of two for 13.

When Durham introduced Harmison his first over cost as many as Mascarenhas's ten. Hampshire had reached an edgy 25 for no wicket off eight overs when Harmison came on. His first ball was pulled for four by John Stephenson and three of the next five were wides. He later bowled two more.

Stephenson followed his two for 31 by dominating an opening stand of 40 with Giles White. He was unlucky to be caught down the leg side off Harmison, who then fed Smith's strength as the former England man cut him for three fours in one over

Hampshire were 68 for two when John Wood replaced Harmison, and he and Melvyn Betts claimed three more wickets before the winning leg bye took the total of extras to 35.

It was a symblic end to a depressing day for Durham. They would have been far better off playing at Feethams