DURHAM'S reign as Royal London Cup holders ended in farcical conditions at Trent Bridge last night after almost five hours were lost to rain.

They could have no complaints, however, as batting second should have favoured them. But after making a great start in chasing a revised target of 194 in 24 overs they stumbled alarmingly by losing three wickets in six balls.

That culminated in the first-ball exit of Paul Collingwood, who drove a return catch to Steve Mullaney and after reaching 63 without loss in the seventh over Durham lost momentum.

They picked it up again through Calum MacLeod and Graham Clark, but then collapsed again to the left-arm spin of Samit Patel and they were all out for 144 with 16 balls unused.

Mark Stoneman chose to bat and included Twenty20 specialist MacLeod in the expectation that once the forecast rain had passed Durham would face a shortened run chase.

It looked an inspired choice as, despite his lack of recent form, the Scot sparked a revival by dominating a stand of 61 with Clark.

The occasion seemed to be too much for Clark as he made only four off his first 13 balls, but he then launched Brett Hutton over long-on for six and also pulled Dan Christian over the rope.

With 73 needed off nine overs Durham were favourites, but Clark drove to extra cover for 28 when Patel was finally introduced in the 15th over, and Patel struck again in his next over.

MacLeod swept him to backward square, where he was well caught by Hales for 34.

Ryan Pringle went the same way, bringing in John Hastings with 60 needed off 33 balls, surely too late for Big John to chase his Lord's dream.

He holed out on the deep mid-wicket boundary, leaving Patel with figures of four for 11.

The floodlights were on from the 2pm start and drizzle began to fall after six overs, but England one-day opener Alex Hales had reached 53 off 49 balls when rain stopped play with Nottinghamshire on 94 for one in 17.2 overs.

Hales played a couple of on-drives which hinted that he is improving his repertoire as he seeks to stake a claim for Test recognition. But his first three fours were all from cuts off Chris Rushworth, whose four overs cost 20 before he made way for John Hastings.

Graham Onions bowled eight overs and had conceded 44 after his last cost ten, prompting the introduction of Scott Borthwick. Hales hit the leg-spinner's third ball for six to reach his 50.

Riki Wessels contributed 25 to an opening stand of 55 before hitting Hastings to Borthwick at mid-wicket, bringing in Australian big-hitter Dan Christian in the 12th over.

Durham succeeded in keeping him reasonably quiet as he reached 15 before the rain arrived.

As both sides had to bat for a minimum of 20 overs, the possibility arose that Nottinghamshire would bat for only a further 16 balls, starting at 8.30.

The resumption came at 8pm and Nottinghamshire added 76 in in their remaining 6.4 overs, despite losing three wickets to Collingwood as they finished on 170 for four.

Hastings conceded seven of the remaining four balls of his fifth over and the revised allocation meant he could not bowl any more. Nor could Onions, while Rushworth had one over left.

Hales slog/swept Collingwood for six but then holed out at deep mid-wicket for 62, bringing in James Taylor.

Stoneman gambled on Borthwick and after conceding one six to Christian, plus three singles, in a respectable 20th over he was left on.

But Taylor hit him for three successive sixes, including a huge blow over cow corner, as 21 came off the leg-spinner's third over.

Taylor made 29 off 15 balls before skying Collingwood to backward point off the first ball of the last over, which cost only five with Samit Patel caught at third man off the last ball. Christian was unbeaten on 48 off 35 balls.

The target wasn't dissimilar from that which Durham knocked off to win the championship match at Trent Bridge two years ago, when Stoneman and Phil Mustard put on 125 for the first wicket.

Again it proved right up their street as they capitalised on the Outlaws fielding an inexperienced seam attack, taking 12 off Harry Gurney's first over before also tucking into Brett Hutton and Jake Ball.

Stoneman was dropped by Patel at cover on ten and also survived a tough chance to Hales, only to get next ball when he miscued to mid-off for 36, made off 22 balls.

Not for the first time this season, Mustard failed to take on the responsibility after the loss of his partner. After two dot balls from Mullaney he drove to long-on to depart for 24.

Collingwood followed and despite MacLeod's effort Durham finally surrendered tamely to Patel.