Hampshire go second with seven wicket win over Durham

Hampshire moved back into second place in Division Two of the CricInfo Championship when they reached a target of 214 in 53 overs with seven wickets and one over to spare against Durham at Chester-le-Street.

There were half-centuries for Jason Laney, Giles White and Will Kendall, and only five were needed off five overs when Kendall was out for 54.

Robin Smith and Neil Johnson took only one run off each of the next three overs and Smith was dropped at mid-wicket off Graeme Bridge before cutting the winning boundary off Stephen Harmison.

There was a career-best five for 39 for Alex Morris as Durham, who resumed on 87 for four, and were dismissed for 202.

But with afternoon sunshine and a placid pitch, Hampshire had the best of the conditions and against some ordinary bowling Laney and White put on 110 for the first wicket.

Laney, in the team only because of Derek Kenway's foot injury, relished the chance to slip into one-day mode and hit seven fours in his 66-ball half-century.

He was out for 60 in the 27th over then White and Will Kendall took the total to 185 before the opener fell for 74, bowled when going for a big hit off Bridge.

Following his decisive burst of three for one on the rain-interrupted third day, Morris did not concede a run in his first four overs today and also took the vital wicket of Martin Love, who moved on from his overnight 43 to 52 then shouldered arms and was lbw.

It was Love's 12th CricInfo Championship half-century of the season, but he has only once gone on to three figures.