Cricket

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Di Venuto's ton hurries Durham into last eight

By Robin Scott-Elliot
Tuesday, 27 May 2008

Two wins in two days and Durham are back on course in their defence of the Friends Provident Trophy. Yesterday they followed up Sunday's comfortable victory over Scotland with an equally one-sided triumph over a Derbyshire side that had been jostling with them for top spot in the North Division. A place in the quarter-finals is the reward for their victory by 117 runs.

Michael Di Venuto's 138 took only 135 balls as Durham reached 298 for 7. In Derbyshire's reply Gareth Breese, the West Indies off-spinner, claimed a one-day best 5 for 41.

Derbyshire must beat Scotland in their final game tomorrow and hope Yorkshire, who yesterday saw off Scotland by seven wickets, fail to beat Lancashire.

In the Midlands Division, Nottinghamshire survived a scare against Ireland when Kevin O'Brien could only hit the last ball for four instead of the required six.

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