Sean Dickson century leads Durham to convincing Royal London victory

Dickson took centre stage as he scored his first List A century, although Luke Doneathy more than played his part with a career-best knock of 69

Gosforth: Durham 327-6, Lancashire 240 - Durham win by 87 runs

Scorecard

An unbeaten century from Sean Dickson and career-best performances with bat and ball from Luke Doneathy provided a winning platform for Durham to beat Lancashire by 87 runs in their Royal London Cup contest at Gosforth.

Dickson and Doneathy combined for a partnership of 156, lifting the hosts from 171 for 6 to a total of 327 from their 50 overs. Dickson took centre stage as he scored his first List A century, although Doneathy more than played his part with a career-best knock of 69.

Rob Jones and Josh Bohannon notched in-vain half-centuries for Lancashire. However, Doneathy was the visitors' bane once more with the ball as he claimed four wickets to allow Durham to claim their third win in five matches to lift them above Lancashire in Group A into second place.

Lancashire won the toss and inserted the home side, whose solid start to the contest was stymied as Graham Clark, Scott Borthwick and Cameron Bancroft were all dismissed cheaply. David Bedingham announced his arrival with a crisp straight drive down the ground to the fence.

He and Alex Lees allowed Durham to regain their footing amid the clatter of wickets. Lees reached his 14th List A half-century in the process from 62 balls, continuing his impressive one-day form. Bedingham's aggression allowed him to reach his second fifty of the competition in only 40 balls. However, Morley had his revenge to dismiss Lees, who missed a straight ball and was out lbw for 59.

Hurt then produced a fine piece of bowling and fielding to prise out Bedingham for 60, leaving Durham in trouble at 155 for 5. Dickson and Doneathy responded with controlled aggression.

^{Luke Doneathy has represented England at under-19 level}

The two players put on a unbeaten stand of 156 for the seventh wicket, propelling Durham into a position of strength at the end of the innings and a total of 327. Dickson led the way his maiden List A century from 75 balls, smashing Danny Lamb to the fence in the final over. Doneathy played his role to perfection clearing the rope, and on occasions the ground, five times with a career-best 69.

Lancashire made a steady start, although regular boundaries eluded Luke Wells and Bohannon. Wells attempted to cut loose, but he was caught by Clark off the bowling of Salisbury. The Durham man then notched his second wicket to remove Steven Croft, ensuring there was no repeat of his 99 at South North two years previously.

Bohannon made a brisk half-century from 55 balls to end a lean time at the crease. His attempts to push on were ended when Doneathy produced a fine return catch to dismiss the right-hander for 52, forcing the visitors to regroup.

Jones and George Lavelle countered with a partnership of 89 keeping Lancashire in touch with the run rate. Jones notched his second fifty in a row from 50 balls, playing the anchor role for his team.

Lavelle hit three sixes, but another lofty blow resulted in his wicket as Salisbury claimed a good catch over his shoulder. Paul van Meekeren dealt a massive blow to the visitors when he bowled Jones, who played onto his own stumps.

The Netherlands international then removed George Balderson to allow the hosts to close in on victory. Doneathy surged through the tail with figures of 4 for 36 to secure a dominant win for Durham in their bid to qualify for the latter stages of the competition.