A FINE all-round display by South African Andrew Hall ultimately counted for nothing as table topping Durham came back from the dead to claim a one run win after Spitfires lost six wickets for 17 runs in a tense finish at Tunbridge Wells.

Hall, who was overlooked for much of his country’s West Indies’ tour, starred with bat and ball as well as in the field, but Dynamos refused to give up and Kent’s supporters were left shell-shocked as their side slid from heroes to zeros in the space of seven overs.

Having taken three for 17 with his slippery seamers, Hall chipped in with a catch and the run out of Neil Killeen to help restrict Durham to 189 on another tricky pitch at the Nevill.

Then, after witnessing the demise of Michael Carberry and Martin van Jaarsveld for singles to the bowling of Liam Plunkett, Hall steadied Kent’s ship with a pugnacious 72 that had seemingly won the game.

He took advantage of the fielding restrictions in the first 15 overs to clatter eight fours on his way to a 46-ball half-century but then, with the field back, Hall chose his shots wisely.

Picking the gaps he dispatched the poor ball with ruthless efficiency to repay the faith of his one-time international coach and now Kent cricket director Graham Ford.

Hall found a willing ally in Matt Walker who, having been dropped at second slip by Nathan Astle when on 14 and given a second life to a missed stumping on 29, got his head down thereafter to hit 58.

Hall finally went to a sharp catch at square-leg to spark a schoolboy style collapse that allowed Durham to wriggle off the hook.

Walker went leg before and Darren Stevens and Kemp to rash shots to extra cover and second slip, then Fulton heaved across the line to go leg before.

With nine runs needed off the last three overs Niall O’Brien’s reckless drive skied to cover and Simon Cook played on to add to the drama.

With two required for victory off Neil Killeen’s final ball of the game Martin Saggers attempts to paddle the ball to third man went awry and Spitfires lost despite scrambling a last ball bye.

Earlier, Durham’s decision to bat first on their first visit to The Nevill in five years seemingly backfired when Hall, Martin Saggers and Cook joined forces to reduce the visitors to 119 for six on what proved a seamer-friendly surface.

Dangerman Nathan Astle edged a Cook leg-cutter to Kemp at slip, which proved the highlight of Kemp’s day as the tall all-rounder went on to bowl six ineffectual and wicketless overs for 37 and get out for one.

Peng top-scored with his second successive league 50 before Hall trapped him leg before, leaving wicketkeeper Phil Mustard to play the cameo of the day.

His 32 from 25 balls included just 12 scoring shots, eight singles and four sixes off Saggers, Kemp and two off Rob Ferley, who other than the two big hits bowled with good control to finish with two for 37.

Cook bowled admirably with the new ball for two for 29, but Saggers proved a tad expensive despite having Astle well held off an inside edge by O’Brien.

Yet in the end, with Kent in complete panic stations, the Dynamos prevailed.