Date-stamped : 30 Apr96 - 02:15 Benson & Hedges Cup 1996 Lancashire v Durham Old Trafford 28-29 April 1996 ====> REPORT B&H Cup: Atherton`s elegant 121 is decisive By Tim Wellock at Old Trafford Lancashire (217-3) bt Durham (214-9) by 7 wkts AN early-season confrontation with the Durham attack was guaranteed to help Mike Atherton banish any remaining World Cup blues, but the manner of his century yesterday was not at all predictable. Having spent 72 balls in making his overnight 24, he needed only a further 64 deliveries to reach three figures against Durham for the fifth time in as many seasons. He was beaten by Simon Brown on 82 and by Paul Collingwood one run later, otherwise the only blemishes came after he had passed his century with his 11th boundary and a Lancashire vic- tory was in the bag. There had been three interruptions for rain before bad light halted play on Sunday with Lancashire on 82 for two after 24 overs and there was a 20-minute stoppage yesterday, while Atherton`s haste was further vindicated by a downpour shortly after victory was secured. Durham were not helped by a damp, ball but as their only hope was to take wickets the introduction of Brown seemed rather be- lated after Atherton and John Crawley had ad- ded 38 off six overs. Brown, watched the previous day by chairman of selectors Ray Illingworth, was treated with great respect and finished with two for 28 from his 10 overs after Crawley fell for 45, skying an attempting pull to John Morris on the midwicket boundary. Source :: Electronic Telegraph (http.//www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by Shash (shs2*.cwru.edu)