Sean Ervine's century propelled Hampshire to the top of a congested NatWest Pro40 Division One table, with a 26-run win over Middlesex at Lord's.

The traffic jam among the leading teams has five of them covered by a solitary point, but it is the Hawks who are now a nose in front.

Ex-Zimbabwe all-rounder Ervine (103), who recently committed to a long-term deal at the Rose Bowl, celebrated by hitting eight fours and four sixes from only 76 balls in the visitors' 228 for six. He shared a 100-run fifth-wicket stand with teenager Liam Dawson.

Middlesex's chase remained feasible as long as their England opener Andrew Strauss (71) was at the crease. But his departure to slow left-armer Dawson (four for 45) sparked a rush of three wickets for three runs - and there was no way back.

Durham's victory over champions Worcestershire at New Road put them among the chasing pack just behind Hampshire, on six points alongside three other counties.

The northerners were in control throughout, winning by eight wickets - with almost 10 overs to spare.

The Pears could not transfer the form of yesterday's County Championship run chase at Colchester into a defendable one-day total on their home patch.

After being put in, only wicketkeeper Steven Davies (59) made much of a fist of the task in hand - and a total of 183 for nine proved inadequate.

Michael di Venuto (101no) underpinned Durham's successful reply, completing the job in an unbroken third-wicket stand of 141 with former England captain Paul Collingwood (65no).

The Tasmanian hit 18 fours and a six in his 98-ball hundred.

Essex went four points clear at the top of Division Two, with a landslide victory over Glamorgan at Colchester.

The Friends Provident Trophy winners made 231 for nine in their 40 overs, captain Mark Pettini (70) leading the way at the top of the order and Lord's hero Grant Flower (53) adding another half-century - in the absence of significant runs from England men Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara.

Alex Wharf took four for 50, but his efforts with the ball came to nought as the visitors descended to 101 all out in only 30.4 overs - Jamie Dalrymple (51) the best of just three batsmen to muster double-figures.

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