AN aggressive flurry which yielded 30 runs off 18 balls for Paul Collingwood proved to be the decisive contribution as Durham successfully defended what seemed an undaunting total of 185 for six to beat Derbyshire by six runs in a game reduced to 36 overs per side by heavy overnight rain.

It was only the fourth win against championship opposition Durham have managed in their seven seasons of first-class status and Derbyshire's debriefing will certainly linger on the mix-up which led to Vince Clarke being run out after making 48 from as many balls, the highest score in the match.

The target was moving to within reasonably comfortable reach for Derbyshire while Kim Barnett and Clarke were together in a fifth-wicket stand which produced 65 runs in 10 overs but nerve and judgment failed at the crucial moment and the task of scoring 45 runs off the last five overs proved beyond them.

Derbyshire's early impetus was lost after Dominic Cork fell carving at a ball well outside his off stump, Adrian Rollins drove to mid-off without the relevant footwork and Tim Tweats was run out.

Only 19 runs came in eight overs as Barnett supervised the digging of new footings but the rate rose sharply once Steve Stubbings was bowled off the bottom edge and Clarke arrived to add some brawn to the equation.

For Derbyshire to succeed, the fifth-wicket pair had to see the job through but the pace of a full toss from Melvyn Betts defeated Barnett and Durham had it won when Phil DeFreitas clipped to square leg and Clarke was well beaten by a throw to the wicketkeeper.

Durham, who had won the toss, soon lost Michael Foster to DeFreitas's slower ball and needed to give their run-rate some thrust after John Morris chipped to mid-on, David Boon slashed to backward point and Jon Lewis was bowled making room against Cork.

Colingwood made his intentions plain with a six over midwicket and also hit three fours to give the innings a muscular flourish which earned him the Gold Award.