DURHAM are close to resolving their dilemma over next season's overseas player.

Middle order frailties have prompted some discussion about signing a batsman, but John Hastings has become an integral part of the team.

He opted out of entering the Indian Premier League auction in order to spend the whole season with Durham and has played in every match so far.

A decision is expected shortly and Hastings' availability is a key factor, especially as finding a Test-class batsman for anything like a full season is almost impossible.

Signing batsmen just below that level is a gamble, as Yorkshire have found this season with Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell.

Both are Victoria team-mates of Hastings, as is another player he will come up against in tonight's NatWest T20 Blast match against Nottinghamshire.

The Outlaws brought in all-rounder Dan Christian to replace Darren Sammy for the second half of their T20 programme, but he almost cost them the game at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

He spent 11 balls scoring eight before getting out in the 17th over, leaving skipper James Taylor with it all to do. He hit the last two balls of the match for four off Kyle Jarvis to clinch the three-wicket win which took Nottinghamshire two points ahead of Durham.

It helped to keep alive Durham's hopes of reaching the quarter-finals because fourth-placed Lancashire are now vulnerable as their final two games are away to the top two sides.

Victory would take Durham level with their visitors on 12 points and they would also be level with Lancashire if the Red Rose men lose at Edgbaston.

“We are still alive and want to keep it that way going into our final game at Northampton,” said Durham coach Jon Lewis.

“We will put out our best side. A couple of bowlers could probably do with a rest but they all want to play.”

Durham have won only two of their last eight T20 games, a run which started with a 15-run defeat at Trent Bridge.

Riki Wessels, a regular thorn in Durham's side, scored 67 out of 175 for seven, while Gordon Muchall top-scored with 42 not out for the visitors.

Muchall was dismissed only twice in Durham's first eight matches and was averaging 112.5, but he has been out in each of his last four innings, totalling 44 runs.

The joint holders of Durham's record T20 score, Phil Mustard and Graham Clark, suffered disappointment in yesterday's Second X1 T20 finals day at Arundel.

Clark made four and Mustard one as Durham slipped to 14 for three in reply to Kent's 184 for nine in the semi-final.

Jack Burnham (46) and James Weighell (54) shared a stand of 87, but Durham finished 23 short on 161 for eight.

Having scored only five runs in his two previous senior T20 appearances, Clark hit an unbeaten 91 in last Friday's defeat at Headingley. He will again bat at three tonight in the absence of Calum MacLeod on Scotland duty. Durham hope for a 5,000 crowd for the 7pm start.

Durham (from): M D Stoneman (capt), P Mustard, G Clark, P D Collingwood, G J Muchall, M J Richardson, K K Jennings, S G Borthwick, R D Pringle, U Arshad, J W Hastings, C Rushworth., J Harrison.