The 34-year-old cracked one six and 18 fours off 98 balls as the Dynamos powered to a target of 184 with 9.4 overs to spare. Paul Collingwood, who survived a stumping chance on 39, chipped in with 65 not out, including two sixes and seven fours off 55 deliveries.
It was Durham’s third win in five matches, while the injury-hit Royals have now triumphed in just one of their opening four games. After Phil Mustard and Shivnarine Chanderpaul had fallen cheaply, Di Venuto tormented a home attack which contained debutant AJ Harris, who has joined Worcestershire on a four-week loan from Nottinghamshire. He has been drafted in because of injuries to Simon Jones, Kabir Ali and Matt Mason, Worcestershire’s three frontline seamers.
Harris failed to take a wicket, however, as Di Venuto and Collingwood took centre stage with an unbroken partnership of 141 in 20 overs. Earlier, Worcestershire – after being put in to bat – had to settle for 183 for nine, opener Steven Davies top-scoring with 59.
Fifty of his runs came in boundaries – one six and 11 fours off 43 balls – before he was fourth out following the dismissals of Vikram Solanki, Stephen Moore and Ben Smith. Captain Solanki, driving at Mark Davies, was held at second slip by Di Venuto and Moore was caught behind by Mustard off Graham Onions for his sixth duck in his last eight List A innings.
Wicketkeeper Davies then put on 46 in four overs with Smith, who made just two before playing on to Onions. Davies was finally bowled behind his legs by Ben Harmison before Daryl Mitchell fell to a rising slip catch by Di Venuto as he attempted to cut Liam Plunkett. Graeme Hick was next to go for 35 when he was trapped lbw pushing forward to Paul Wiseman.
When the 41-year-old had reached 30 he became the second batsman, behind Graham Gooch, to complete a career tally of 22,000 List A runs. Off-spinner Wiseman followed up in his next over to remove Gareth Batty, before Collingwood’s 13th delivery accounted for Moeen Ali, who faced 58 balls and did not manage a boundary in his 22. Gareth Andrew made a useful 25 and figured in a 38-run stand in six overs with Imran Arif before becoming another scalp for Collingwood, who claimed 2-26.