DURHAM have batted themselves into a fantastic position at the halfway stage of the Friends Provident Trophy final at Lord's.

Having been put in to bat by their opponents, Hampshire, the North-Easterners made 312-5 from their 50 overs.

West Indian batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul top-scored with a quickfire 78 but, with every Durham batsman making it into double figures, Dale Benkenstein's side can look back on an impressive team effort as they prepare to defend their score.

Michael Di Venuto was the first batsman to depart for 12, drilling a low catch to Michael Carberry at square leg, but fellow opener Phil Mustard provided Durham with a whirlwind start by cracking 49 runs off 38 balls.

The Sunderland-born wicketkeeper produced a succession of improvised chips and pulls, but his salvo came to an end when he was adjudged leg before to James Bruce despite the ball having pitched outside the leg stump.

Mustard's dismissal brought Chanderpaul to the wicket, and the West Indian quickly added a century partnership with Scotsman Kyle Coetzer.

Coetzer made 61 before he drilled a catch to Shane Warne in the covers, but Chanderpaul continued to attack as Hampshire's bowlers struggled to stem the flood of runs.

He looked to be on his way to a well-deserved century, but his innings came to an abrupt end following a mix-up with Paul Collingwood.

The England one-day skipper turned Chanderpaul back as he set off for a second run, and Carberry's well-judged throw from the outfield saw him run out for 78.

That should have enabled Hampshire to peg Durham back, but after Collingwood was dismissed for a streaky 22, Benkenstein and Ottis Gibson plundered 33 off the last two overs.

Benkenstein finished with an unbeaten 61 from 43 balls, and Gibson plundered a six and a four to smash 15 not out off seven.