Worcestershire Royals kept up their challenge at the top of the Norwich Union League Division One as Ben Smith and David Leatherdale steered them to a 121-run win over Durham Dynamos.

A commanding knock of 83 off just 87 balls from Smith saw the visitors establish a healthy target of 265.

Medium-pacer Leatherdale was similarly ruthless with the ball, posting figures of five for nine as Durham were restricted to just 99 for eight.

In the 29th over of Durham's response rain set in and, with the Duckworth-Lewis method enforced, the hosts were well short of their victory target.

Vikram Solanki signalled Worcestershire's intentions early on with some dashing shots before Neil Killeen had him caught by Nicky Peng at mid-on trying to force a shot on just 12.

Graeme Hick then steadied the ship, and by the time he departed with 41 off 47 balls, he had established a solid platform on which the visitors could build.

Anurag Singh provided ample support, weighing in with 37 before holing out to Michael Gough at square leg, but it was Smith who was the hero of the innings.

Stride

The former Leicestershire man quickly got into his stride, taking just over an hour to reach his 50.

Despite the loss of Leatherdale (4), Gareth Batty (36) and then Steve Rhodes (2), Smith remained --helped by a quick-fire 24 off just 13 balls from Kabir Ali -- to put his side in a commanding position.

Finally in the 44th over his resistance was ended when he was bowled by Danny Law. Worcestershire finished in good shape at 265 all out.

Gough's dimissal, caught by Solanki for a duck off the bowling of Ali in the third over, set the tone for the Durham response, and five overs later Gary Pratt was bowled by Matt Mason for 16.

Durham were teetering at 28 for two and although Gordon Muchall hit 28 and Peng 29 before falling to Matthew Rawnsley and Leatherdale respectively, they were never realistically in with a shout.

The next four wickets fell for just 14 more runs, with Leatherdale taking all the scalps to set up victory with room to spare before rain set in.

Worcestershire

Solanki c Peng b Killeen 12

Singh c Gough b Hatch 37

Hick b Davies 41

Smith b Law 83

Leatherdale c A Pratt b Davies 4

Batty b Davies 36

Rhodes c A Pratt b Killeen 2

Kabir Ali c Muchall b Law 24

Mason c Lewis b Killeen 4

Rawnsley not out 1

Donald c Davies b Killeen 0

Extras: 21

Total (all out, 44.4 overs): 265

Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-91, 3-124, 4-132, 5-212, 6-215, 7-259, 8-262, 9-264, 10-265

Bowling: Hatch 7-0-40-1; Kil-leen 8.4-0-48-4; Law 8-0-67-2; Bridge 9-1-33-0; Davies 9-0-41-3; Gough 3-0-25-0.

Durham

Gough c Solanki b Kabir Ali 0

G Pratt b Mason 16

Muchall st Rhodes b R'nsley 28

Peng b Leatherdale 29

Lewis not out 5

A Pratt b Leatherdale 0

Law lbw b Leatherdale 10

Bridge b Leatherdale 0

Davies c Rhodes b Leatherdale 0

Killeen not out 0

Extras: 11

Total (8 wkts, 29.3 overs): 99

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-28, 3-81, 4-85, 5-85, 6-97, 7-97, 8-99.

Bowling: Kabir Ali 6-1-23-1; Mason 7-1-27-1; Donald 6-1-18-0; Rawnsley 7-0-20-1; Leather-dale 3.3-1-9-5.