DURHAM’S seamers kept a stranglehold on visiting Hampshire in the CB 40 League today with only the unknown Benny Howell providing lengthy resistance.

Yet to make his first-class debut, the 22-year-old opener held the innings together by making 66 out of a total of 161.

Wickets fell regularly and Ben Stokes cashed in with four late ones to go with the three he took at the end of Leicestershire’s innings in the last CB 40 match.

Mitch Claydon bowled well to claim the important scalps of Neil McKenzie and Sean Ervine in his first spell, then came back to take the last wicket as Hampshire were all out in 37.2 overs.

Graham Onions had to be content with one wicket, despite being the best bowler and conceding only 23 runs in his eight overs. Chris Rushworth took the other two and Dale Benkenstein gave himself eight overs while ignoring the spinners.

Hampshire had Dimitri Mascarenhas back in their side after playing only one Twenty20 match last June since suffering a bad Achilles injury during last year’s Indian Premier League.

The former T20 international went in with the score on 127 for five in the 30th over and hit two fours before being yorked by Stokes for nine.

The only stand of note was 68 for the fifth wicket between Howell and Liam Dawson, who included three flips to fine leg for four off Benkenstein in his 38.