Three wickets for Steve Harmison and a half-century by Michael Di Venuto helped Durham ease past Gloucestershire in Pro40 Division One at the Riverside.

The victory, secured by Di Venuto (52 not out), guarantees Durham's a place in the top division next season.

Gloucestershire opted to bat first but Harmison took 3-32 and spinner Gareth Breese a remarkable 3-8 off 4.5 overs as the visitors were dismissed for 119.

Breese then made 20 not out as he and Di Venuto secured a five-wicket win.

Aware that defeat could see them facing a relegation play-off, Durham slipped to 29-4 in their pursuit as paceman Steve Kirby removed Shivnarine Chanderpaul (3), Will Smith (0) and Gordon Muchall (7) in quick succession.

But Di Venuto and Breese put on 50 to see them home with 82 balls to spare.

Earlier, Gloucestershire batsmen Will Porterfield (36) and Kadeer Ali (26) put on 63 but were the only scorers of any note for their side.

After the early loss of Hamish Marshall, the pair guided the visitors to 63-1 before both were removed by Harmison as five wickets fell for 18 runs.

Breese took three of the last four wickets as the tail folded meekly with 6.1 overs unused.

It looked like being a stroll for Durham as Di Venuto and Phil Mustard took the score to 17-0, before wicketkeeper Mustard got a bottom edge into his stumps off Jon Lewis.

Kirby then moved one sharply away from Chanderpaul to have him caught behind, then found inside edges as Smith was caught behind and Muchall played on.

By the time Kirby returned to the attack, however, Gloucestershire had surrendered the initiative as Dale Benkenstein made 25.

It was left to Di Venuto and Breese to complete the task.

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