Yorkshire Phoenix have given themselves an outside chance of reaching the quarter-finals of the Twenty20 Cup by beating local rivals Durham Dynamos by 40 runs.
With one North Division fixture remaining, Phoenix must now overcome holders Leicestershire at Grace Road tomorrow and hope Derbyshire, who also have six points but a game in hand, fail to win their last two games.
Even then, results must go Yorkshire's way in the two other regional divisions to ensure they claim a slot as one of the best third placed sides. Acting Durham skipper Dale Benkenstein won the toss and put Yorkshire in to bat on a gloomy evening at Chester-le-Street.
The visitors slipped from 126-1 in the 15th over to finish on 171-7, with off-spinner Gary Scott and Benkenstein picking up three wickets each. Craig White made 55 off 45 balls but surrendered to a poor stroke after sharing stands of 76 with Ian Harvey and 50 with Phil Jaques.
Harvey hit two of the three sixes in the innings before being run out for 44, while Jaques made 42.
Durham slumped to 23-3 in three overs before they were revived by Benkenstein.
He dominated a fourth-wicket stand of 79 in nine overs with Gordon Muchall hitting four sixes and four fours in his 34-ball knock to win the man of the match award.
But the last six wickets went down for 27 runs as Durham were all out for 131 with 17 balls unused.
Nathan Astle will be rested for tomorrow night's final fixture against Lancashire at Chester-le-Street after splitting the webbing on his hand.
Ben Harmison, younger brother of England paceman Steve, will be handed his debut.
LATEST TWENTY20 CUP SCORES
NORTH DIVISION - Riverside: Yorks 171-7 (IJ Harvey 44, C White 55, PA Jaques 42; GM Scott 3-27, DM Benkenstein 3-17) bt Durham 131 all out (GJ Muchall 24, DM Benkenstein 53; IJ Harvey 2-8, A McGrath 3-27) by 40 runs;Derby: Lancs 205-2 (BJ Hodge 90no, S G Law 67) bt Derbys 106-7 (BJ Hodge 4-27) by 50 runs (D/L Method) MIDLANDS/WEST/WALES DIVISION - EdgbastonWarwicks 172-8 bt Somerset 125 by 47 runs. SOUTH DIVISION - Hove: Midd 56-1 vs Sussex - no result
TONIGHT'S FIXTURES
NORTH DIVISION - Grace Road: Leics v Derbys. MIDLANDS/WEST/WALES DIV - Sophia Gardens: Glam v Gloucs; Northampton: Northants v Worcs. SOUTH DIV - Chelmsford: Essex v Surrey; Canterbury: Kent v Sussex
