DURHAM were powerless to stem the amazing torrent of runs from Michael Lumb, whose third successive century carried Nottinghamshire to a 42-over total of 275 for five.

The left-handed former Yorkshire player made 105 to take his aggregate from three Royal London Cup innings to 422 at an average of 140.66.

The start was delayed for ten minutes by heavy drizzle, which returned three times inside the first 13 overs, forcing the reduction of eight overs a side.

Given the likelihood of therse interruptions it was surprising that Nottinghamshire chose to bat when Mark Stoneman lost the toss for the seventh successive time.

But Lumb rode the sort of luck which often accompanies a rich seam of form to reach his century off 95 balls.

Durham were well served by Chris Rushworth and Paul Coughlin, who found Lumb's edge on 24 only for the ball to narrowly evade the only slip.

There was also an edged four off Scott Borthwick on 80, but the rest of Lumb's 12 boundaries were well-timed authentic strokes ranging from drives lofted over the off-side to pulls guided into space behind square.

Rushworth's tight opening spell resulted in Riki Wessels losing patience when swung round a full-length ball and was bowled for ten.

But Greg Smith contributed 46 to a stand of 118 before he got an inside edge into his stumps off Usman Arsahd.

The second-wicket pair had just switched into overdrive with the total on 124 after 25 overs, taking 25 off the next two from spin pair Borthwick and Ryan Pringle.

Despite Lumb following five overs later, bowled when hitting across a ball from Coughlin which hit leg and middle, the momentum was sustained.

Samit Patel took 18 off the first five balls of Rushworth's last over, including a straight six, before driving the sixth to extra cover, where Stoneman dived to hold an excellent catch.

Patel made 40 off 25 balls and visiting skipper Dan Christian, the Australian one-day international, reached 57 off 43 balls before being run out off the last ball of the innings.

He survived a difficult chance to deep mid-wicket on 36 off the luckless Coughlin, who then suffered the same treatment as Rushworth as 18 came off his final over as Nottinghamshire added 48 in the last four.