.The visitors began the day requiring 154 runs and while a few early appeals from the Lancashire attack were turned down early on the hosts also missed out on dismissing Paul Collingwood early on after he was dropped by Paul Horton in the slips off Hogg.
Durham scored tentatively in the early stages as they looked to see off the seamers but reached 50 in the 8th over requiring a further 131.
A short shower brought about a delay in play but
Durham were 82-4 with half an hour to go before lunch after Paul Collingwood (45) nicked Procter’s second delivery to Croft in the slips bringing Dale Benkenstein to the middle to join Smith with the visitors requiring 99 runs to claim victory.
Gary Keedy struck with his second ball, dismissing Smith lbw for 30 with Durham requiring 80 for the win. Lancashire missed out on a further opportunity to steal another wicket when Blackwell was dropped in the deep early on by Hogg on 13.
At the lunch break Durham were 113-5 requiring 68 runs.
Dale Benkenstein stuck in for the second time in the game and reached his fifty off 81 deliveries which included five fours. He went on to strike the winning boundary, which saw Durham claim the win by five wickets, as well as securing Benkenstein the accolade of Durham’s highest run scorer.
Highlights of the match can be found at www.durhamccc.co.uk/durhamtv/highlights
A post match interview with Geoff Cook will be available on Thursday at www.durhamccc.co.uk/durhamtv/interviews