GARETH Breese is hoping to bow out after 11 years with Durham by winning the Royal London Cup.

Durham’s progress to the quarter-finals was confirmed by last night’s results and Breese said: “I would love to go out on a high with a return to Lord’s. If I had to choose a best moment of my Durham career it would be the Friends Provident Trophy final in 2007.

“That was the club’s first major trophy and to do it in their first appearance at Lord’s was very special. It would be lovely to sign off with a repeat.”

Durham will have an away tie in the quarter-finals but will not know until after tonight’s games whether they will visit Yorkshire, Essex or Gloucestershire.

Breese, 38, was told last week that Durham would not be renewing his contract but said: “It didn’t come as too much of a shock. Last year there was uncertainty before I was handed a new contract, so I always felt this could be my final season.

“I’ve had a fantastic time at the club and it’s been good to play a small role in the amazing success we’ve had. From where the club was when I arrived in 2004 to where it is now is unrecognisable.”

Although he scored a century in the match at Canterbury in 2008 when Durham clinched their first championship title, Breese’s highest score was the 165 not out he made in the one-wicket win at Taunton in 2004.

Needing 453, Durham were 95 for five when he went to the crease.

As Durham have rarely used two spinners, Breese has not featured much in four-day cricket since the arrival of Paul Wiseman in 2007, followed by Ian Blackwell and the emergence of Scott Borthwick.

But he has remained a regular in the one-day side and in four innings in the Royal London Cup he has scored 79 runs and been out only once.

“I really don’t know what the future holds,” he said. “I would love to keep playing but at 38 there’s possibly not too many options for me.

“I’ve done a bit of coaching at Durham recently with the youngsters, but I won’t be staying in that capacity either.

“I’ve loved my time in the North East and my wife and children are settled here so I don’t think I’d like to move.

But it depends on what opportunities come up.”