Hampshire were on the brink of a first defeat in five Lord's finals in today's Friends Provident Trophy showdown against Durham.

The Hawks were set a record 313 to win from 50 overs after winning the toss but made the worst possible start.

Ottis Gibson, a month after taking all ten first-innings wickets against Hampshire in the County Championship, caused a sensation when he had Michael Lumb and Sean Ervine caught at second slip with the first two deliveries of the Hawks' reply.

John Crawley hit a brave 68 but Nic Pothas (39*) and Dimitri Mascarenhas (3* )were still there when rain fell at 5.20pm with the Hawks 158-5 from 32.3 overs, needing an unlikely 155 from 105 balls to maintain their 100 per cent record in Lord's finals.

The rain looked set to take the match into a second day, despite another poor forecast for Sunday and the possibility of play until 8pm on Saturday.

Durham's total of 312-5, a record for a 50-over Trophy final, was always going to be a tough chase.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul struck a high-tempo 78, including two of Durham's EIGHT sixes, and Phil Mustard blasted 49 off 38 balls.

Mustard was unfortunate to be givenn out lbw. Replays showed James Bruce's delivery pitched outside leg stump but Mustard forgot he could refer the lbw decision to the third umpire - until it was too late.

Durham's huge total could not be blamed on poor Hampshire fielding, just wayward bowling.

Daren Powell (2-80) was grateful for a stunning diving catch from Michael Carberry at mid-wicket to see off Michael Di Venuto (12).

Shane Warne's safe hands at short extra cover accounted for Kyle Coetzer (61), and the excellent Carberry ran out Chanderpaul from long on.

An expertly judged Mascarenhas catch, over his shoulder at backward point, brought to an end Paul Collingwood's 22.

But Benkenstein's vicious assault, an unbeaten 61 from just 43 balls including three sixes, took the game away from the Hawks.

Shaun Udal was denied a Hampshire record fourth Lord's final appearance when Bruce was preferred because of the overcast conditions.