DURHAM'S lesser lights guided them within tantalising grasp of the Sunday League leadership before the scores finished level on 194 for nine against Essex.

Despite the absence of five key players, Durham were cruising after a second-wicket stand of 93 in 19 overs between Jimmy Daley (69) and Stewart Hutton (44) but they lost seven wickets for 25 runs before reserve wicket-keeper Andrew Pratt scrambled five runs off the two balls he faced to leave Durham on 194 for nine.

Durham's latest casualty is Martin Speight, whose knee injury allowed Pratt to play and he caught the first three Essex batsmen, including a breathtaking effort to remove Nasser Hussain. Paul Grayson's 59 off 65 balls rescued Essex from 48 for three and they finished on 194 for nine with two balls unused.