THE anticipation of only their third win in 19 seasons in the Benson and Hedges Cup proved too much for Scotland as their bowling lost its discipline and Martin Speight took full advantage to guide Durham home with nine balls to spare.

Durham needed 91 off 13 overs with five wickets left, but Speight put on 83 with Mike Foster before the Scots rekindled their hopes with two wickets in successive balls in the 48th over.

With six needed off two overs Speight clipped a catch to deep square leg to fall for 55, but an edged four helped Durham to set up the prospect of qualifying for the quarter-finals for the first time by winning at home to Worcestershire today.

They were cruising along at 74 for one when the umbrellas began to go up and, although play continued, Durham senselessly gave away two wickets in successive overs and under the dreaded Duckworth-Lewis method they were suddenly in negative figures.

It got down to -22 when they were 120 for five but Speight's penchant for working the ball away behind square began to put Scotland under pressure. Foster's 35 came off 25 balls and once 14 had come off the 44th over, bowled by Asim Butt, Durham were back in control.

The Gold Award went to Oxford University student Dougie Lockhart, for his 75 which enabled Scotland to pass 200 for the first time for three years in this event.