Mal Loye and Brad Hodge spoiled Steve Harmison's comeback from injury as Lancashire outplayed Durham by 125 runs in the C&G Trophy.

The game at Old Trafford was Harmison's first since pulling out of the England tour to India with a shin injury.

He took 2-47 from a full allocation of 10 overs but Loye (127) and Hodge (118) guided Lancashire to a score of 307-5.

Durham were never in the hunt after slumping from 78-1 to 81-5 and were all out for 182 in the 44th over.

The damage was done by seamers Glenn Chapple (3-26) and Tom Smith (2-25) after Jon Lewis and Jimmy Maher had launched the run chase with an opening stand of 64.

Lewis made 37 and Maher 34, but the only substantial partnership thereafter was one of 61 between Gareth Breese (26) and Phil Mustard (33).

They both fell to Simon Marshall with the total on 142 and the young leg-spinner later took a return catch to dismiss Harmison for 17 and finished with 3-36 as Lancashire made it fours wins out of four in the competition.

Loye and Hodge had earlier hit a combined total of four sixes and 22 fours during their innings.

The tone was set by Loye after Durham skipper Dale Benkenstein opted to entrust Ottis Gibson and Mick Lewis with the new ball in preference to Harmison.

Lancashire had 96 on the board before Harmison, operating as first change and showing no signs of discomfort, bowled Mark Chilton for 19 off the inside edge.

It did not interrupt the home side's progress, however, as Loye and Hodge tucked into the other Durham bowlers to add 115 for the second wicket before Loye was bowled by Neil Killeen.

It took him 102 balls to reach three figures, but Hodge bettered that by six and batted on until the final over when he was bowled by fellow Aussie Lewis.

Law had been trapped lbw by Harmison and Gibson claimed the other wicket to fall when Glenn Chapple was caught by Gary Pratt for 15.