DIRECTOR of cricket Tom Moody branded Worcestershire Royals' performance against Durham Dynamos at New Road yesterday as 'not acceptable'.

Durham, boosted by centuries from Marcus North and Paul Collingwood, triumphed by 94 runs to send the County crashing to their first totesport League Division Two defeat of the season.

To add to their misery they picked up injuries to Andrew Hall, Andy Bichel and Ben Smith, although Moody refused to blame the injury setbacks for their grim display.

He said: "Our performance was not acceptable. We have discussed it and regardless of whether we have casualties it was before then that we were still well off par. We weren't on song and when you have a few casualties along the way it's like rubbing salt in the wound."

Moody believes the County were still suffering from the effects of their Frizzell County Championship Division One match at Old Trafford which ended in 219 runs defeat against Lancashire on Friday.

He said: "The guys were really gutted by their performance at Old Trafford. They went up there with high expectations and came back with their tails between their legs and that hang-over lasted a day too long."

The County were comprehensively beaten yesterday after North blasted 110 and Collingwood 102 not out to power Durham to an impressive 319-3. It was their biggest total in a limited-over match against a first-class county -- and far too many for Worcestershire who had to be content with 225-8.

From the minute Durham launched their innings, after winning the toss, the New Road bowlers were under heavy pressure, particularly as paceman Bichel was only able to bowl four overs because of a slight groin strain.

Openers North and Nicky Peng signalled their intentions, completing a half century stand in nine overs and the century in the 15th.

It was particularly painful for County skipper Smith who left the field with a dislocated finger on his left hand, he suffered while attempting to stop a fierce drive at mid-off from North.

To add to his side's problems they also lost Hall with back trouble before Durham's bumper opening stand finally came to an end. Pent was the victim when he was caught at backward point by Stephen Peters off David Leatherdale for 65.

By then he had put on 137 in 24 overs with North who then added 156 in 19 with Collingwood -- a second wicket record stand in the competition for Durham.

The curtain eventually fell on their star double act when North was trapped leg before by paceman Nadeem Malik after smashing five sixes and nine fours off 112 balls. Collingwood went on to make the fastest one-day ton for Durham, hammering two sixes and nine fours off 74 deliveries.

The County were never in the hunt although a degree of respectability was given to the score by Steve Rhodes (71no) and a limited-over best 51 by Stephen Moore.