Tomlinson was run out by Coetzer in the 15th over of the day, at which point Hampshire had a lead of 146. Nic Pothas continued to be a threat for the majority of the morning session, scoring fifty from 112 including eight fours, before he was eventually caught behind off Plunkett for 76, leaving Hampshire 247-7.
Kabir Ali added nine before he was out lbw to Blackwell and Briggs failed to contribute to the total, out lbw to Plunkett after three deliveries. Griffiths and Ervine managed to hold on until after lunch but the latter was caught by Thorp on the boundary in front of the home dressing room off the bowling of Stokes for 46.
With 57 overs remaining in the day Durham needed to chase down 260 runs. Michael Di Venuto contributed 18 before a two handed catch from McKenzie off the bowling of Tomlinson brought his time in the middle to an end when Durham had 28 on the board.
Smith and Coetzer put on a fifty partnership pushing Durham to 78-1 and 182 runs required from 37 overs. Smith (20) was the first of Briggs’ three victims of the day after he top-edged to Ervine.
At tea Durham were 78-2, with Coetzer and Benkenstein at the crease, and needed 182 runs in the final session of the match to claim their first competitive win of the 2010 season and what an exciting 36 overs it was!
Coetzer continued steadily, hitting eight boundaries in his 83 ball fifty, and Durham moved on to 121 before Benkenstein was out lbw to Tomlinson for 10.
Some big hitting from Ian Blackwell, now partnering Coetzer at the crease, saw the score move swiftly past 150 and with 22 overs left in the day Durham needed 98 to win.
After both batsman were dropped within a couple overs Kyle was caught by Ali off Briggs for 72, bringing Ben Stokes to the crease at a pretty tense time in the match.
Blackwell scored a 36 ball fifty, including five boundaries and a six, before he was caught at square leg by Adams off Briggs for 62, at which point Durham needed 44 off 10 overs, with Phil Mustard and Stokes in the middle.
Boundaries flowed and the hosts needed 10 runs off five overs, with Mustard securing the win with one big hit for six. Durham picked up 23 points.
Take a look a today’s match chat for more information, www.durhamccc.co.uk/live-match-chat
Highlights from today’s play will be posted online on Sunday.