DALE Benkenstein, the rock on which so much Durham success has been built, wrote his name indelibly into the county's record books yesterday.
He sealed a five-wicket win against Lancashire at Liverpool by cutting left-arm spinner Gary Keedy for the four which took him past Jon Lewis's record as Durham's record first-class run scorer.
While Lewis scored his 7,854 runs from 262 innings, this was Benkenstein's 175th in a Durham career which began in 2005. It is no coincidence that their rise from rock bottom to the best team in the land began that year.
When he had made 44 yesterday he reached 1,000 first-class runs for the season, with only Marcus Trescothick having beaten him to the target.
Durham's victory secured a 23-point lead at the top of the LV County Championship as they completed the double over their only serious challengers.
After making 83 not out on the first day, when 20 wickets fell, Benkenstein was unbeaten on 60 and gradually eased the tension after a gripping third morning by sharing an unbroken stand of 81 with Ian Blackwell.
Benkenstein said: "I was aware of the record because I kept getting texts from fans about it. It was quite nice to achieve it but in this game the focus was completely on winning.
"Durham has been an amazing part of my career because when you get to around 30 in South African you are generally finished if you haven't made it into the Test side. Durham gave me the chance to continue and I've always been grateful for that.
"I'm just trying to keep my body in one piece because I want to keep playing as long as I'm fit and contributing.
"I know what it's like to be in form and out of form and know you have to cash in when the going's good.
"There was a lot of pressure just coming into this game on a ground we don't know and where Lancashire have been doing well.
"It's been a fascinating game and everyone watching knows it's been a knife-edge all the way through. But whatever the situation my mindset doesn't change. I wait for the bad ball to come along and I hit it, and you're always hoping for a bit of luck."
Paul Collingwood, who set Durham on the way to victory with an innings of 45 yesterday, said: "I didn't know how well I would fit back into the side. But I've been surprised how much I have enjoyed being on the bus with the boys and being out in the middle.
"I went through a tough period but I now feel as comfortable in the middle as I ever have."
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