THE new Trent Bridge floodlights made a faultless debut last night. Sadly, the Notts team failed to shine quite so brightly.

What seemed like a simple run chase in the closing overs to secure a win that would have cemented the Outlaws' position at the top of the table turned into a disappointing capitulation amid a rush of wickets

But it was arguably a moment of ill-fortune for Mark Wagh that turned the game decisively against the Outlaws.

The number three was cruising, having just moved to his half century from just 44 balls, including two fours and a six.

But in bringing up that landmark with a boundary off Steve Harmison, the number three damaged his shoulder and was forced to retire hurt with 19 needed from 16 balls.

His departure gave Durham new hope.

And they seized the opportunity brilliantly through the inspired Harmison who bowled a tight last two overs to snuff out the Outlaws' hopes.

Steaming in and bowling at 90mph, the paceman's form was great news for England supporters. But it was not so good for Notts fans, especially as his direct hit accounted for one of two crucial run-outs with a throw from the deep.

From 134-3 when Wagh left the field, Notts stumbled to 146-9 at the end to lose by six runs under the Duckworth/Lewis method.

Their demise included three wickets in the penultimate over from Graham Onions as Mark Ealham and Andre Adams were short of their ground attempting second runs.

When Bilal Shafayat (27) was run out in the final over, defeat was inevitable.

Yet the target of 153 from 25 overs – a Twenty20 style equation – had looked eminently gettable, especially when Matt Wood (19) gave the Outlaws a solid start with a quicker than a run-a-ball knock.

Opening partner Will Jefferson also looked to have batted himself back into some kind of form.

But after equalling his best one-day score of the season of 43 (in 41 balls) – and pulling a fired-up Harmison for six – he tried to smash spinner Gareth Breese over the top and holed out in the deep, Liam Plunkett taking the catch.

Notts lost overseas debutant Ashwell Price with the score on 80 for one as Will Smith took a brilliant diving catch to mop up a leading edge from the South African, handing Breese his second victim.

It was then that Wagh, in partnership with Shafayat wrested back the initiative, just as they began to fall behind the required run-rate, with consecutive sixes off Breese. It was not to be for Wagh, though, who left the field and took Notts' hopes with him.

Earlier, Durham had Shivnarine Chanderpaul to thank for accumulating a big chunk of their runs.

He proved as much of a handful as he had to England's finest when touring with the West Indies last year.

Then, the unorthodox left-hander had scored two hundreds and three fifties in scoring 446 runs in three Tests at a phenomenal average of 148.66.

Here, he scored an effortless 77 from 85 balls that contained eight boundaries and two superb sixes.

Chanderpaul was well supported at the top of the innings in a stand of 45 for the first wicket with Phil Mustard (19).

When the wicket-keeper was caught at deep cover by Ashwell Prince off Charlie Shreck, former Notts man Smith carried on the good work as the runs flowed.

But then suddenly the Dynamos lost 5-15 in 28 balls to collapse from 105-1 to 120-6. First, Mark Ealham made a vital breakthrough by ending a partnership of 60 between Chanderpaul and Smith, who drove a slower ball to Shreck.

But if anything the real catalyst for Durham's woes was spinner Rob Ferley, who might not even have been playing but for the England call-ups for fellow 'tweakers' Graeme Swann and Samit Patel.

The former Kent man's second over, a double-wicket maiden saw Gordon Muchall (2), caught and bowled and skipper Benkenstein (0) caught at cover.

Even long-time nemesis Breese could not halt his side's slide as a smart piece of work by Ferley saw him run out.

Darren Pattinson came back to have Ben Harmison (4) caught behind before Chanderpaul threatened to take the game away from the hosts again.

But he finally went with the score on 171, smashing a full toss off Shreck to Bilal Shafayat at wide long-on. Two more wickets fell quickly, but Durham's score of 178-9 still proved enough.

Focus on floodlights: Page 3