Durham put sad Saltires to the sword

Bottom of the table and out of serious contention to reach the semi-finals, the domestic scene remains a place for experimentation for the Saltires, their safe passage to this year's Intercontinental Cup now taking precedence as the national side assesses its short-term priorities.

Claiming the scalp of England's reigning county champions, however, would have been a notable accomplishment. Durham have made a habit of ruthlessness and resilience during their two-year reign and at Titwood yesterday, they throttled the ambitions of Gordon Drummond's men. Despite Gordon Goudie's four-wicket haul, the Dynamos, energised by 63 runs from Michael Di Venuto, racked up 189-7 in a match shortened to 30 overs per side due to rain.

The hosts' threat in reply was duly blunted. Although Gavin Hamilton ground out 63 precious runs, it did no more than avert calamity. Only Richie Berrington and Matt Parker reached double figures and, with Ian Blackwell claiming 3-42, Scotland's eventual haul of 144-9 was nowhere near enough and, after a 47-run defeat on Duckworth-Lewis, they must now regroup for today's encounter with Warwickshire Bears.

"We've been away in club cricket for three weeks and the step up in class was just difficult," said Drummond. "We didn't get up their standards which is disappointing because we've been on a good run. We fielded well and took our chances but they got a lot of boundaries off the last balls of the over which is criminal. We just need to switch ourselves on against Warwickshire. But we need to be tighter overall. If Gavin had some support here, we might have come close but that's no excuse."

The Saltires' task could have been even more arduous had the heavens not opened in the third over of the afternoon, with Durham on 8-0. When play resumed, two hours later, Goudie doused Phil Mustard with a sneaky delivery that the visiting skipper drove carelessly into the hands of Bailey. There was plenty, though, still in reserve for a side so blessed with strength in depth that Scotland's best batsman, Kyle Coetzer, cannot find a route into its line-up from his place among the reserves.

Yet, in Ben Stokes, Durham coach Geoff Cook can offer evidence that he will give talent its head despite the growing reliance on foreign-born performers at a county that, for so long, earned an admirable reputation for its in-house production line. Born in New Zealand but an English U-19 cap, the teenager played the foil to Di Venuto as they steered Durham into a commanding position.

Di Venuto reached his 50 off just 55 balls and quickly extended his tally with successive boundaries. Drummond shook his head and vowed that there would not be a third, unleashing a full toss that punctured the Australian's bravado as he edged behind to Dougie Lockhart.

Stokes did not linger, removed on 39 by a fine catch from Goudie and as the grey clouds swarmed overhead once more, the hosts took some of the shine off Durham's score. As their chase became ever more frenetic, Goudie persuaded Benkenstein, on 34, to drive into the hands of Hamilton, eventually securing creditable figures of 4-51 with a return catch from Liam Plunkett. While Bailey, who has spent the past six weeks skipping Australia's A side, produced a majestic pinpoint throw to run out Blackwell.

The Tasmanian could not match that feat with the bat, following Fraser Watts and Preston Mommsen into the pavilion as Scotland's top order faltered badly. Berrington, strongly linked with an off-season move to Sussex, did his best to give Hamilton a crutch but he was claimed at slip on 29. There was little left in reserve and although the former skipper stood his ground, when he was run out – inevitably by DiVenuto – with 12 balls left, the game was long since up. Dynamism rules.