LIAM Plunkett celebrated his Ashes call-up with three wickets against former county Durham as Yorkshire took a significant step towards a Royal London Cup quarter-final place.

The Vikings won for the third time in five Group A matches, by 32 runs on Duckworth Lewis having been set 225 in 43 overs after morning rain delayed the start by 75 minutes until 11.45am.

When the rain returned just after 4.30pm, Yorkshire were cruising at 130-2 in the 25th over and Glenn Maxwell 65 not out off 51 balls.

It was the Australian's third successive score above 50 and it means that Yorkshire are likely to need only one more win from their last three group matches to advance, starting against Leicestershire at Headingley tomorrow.

It was the perfect way to begin a hectic nine days, which ends with an LV= County Championship match between the two sides at Scarborough. If Yorkshire can win that fixture, they will have all but secured back-to-back four-day titles.

Plunkett, now unavailable ahead of Thursday's Trent Bridge Test, took 3-40 from nine overs as Durham limped to 224-7, including 42 for youngster Graham Clark and 35 not out by Gordon Muchall.

Tim Bresnan struck twice, with Steve Patterson and Plunkett's fellow Ashes squad man Adil Rashid adding one wicket apiece.

Plunkett said: "It was a good win, although it would have been nice to finish it off properly. We were in a good position, with Glenn batting really nicely.

"I think we bowled really well. We've got it wrong at the death in T20 but the last few days have been quality.

"Patto, Brez and Fish (Matthew Fisher) finished it off really well. We had that total in our sights and we felt like we could knock it off even with a bit of rain.

"Our limited-overs form has been frustrating this season. We've got so much talent in the squad, why wouldn't you be frustrated? But hopefully we can excel in this competition.

"With a game coming immediately, the lads are in good rhythm and are hitting it well.

"I've been enjoying the one-day format. I feel like I'm hitting my straps, bowling seven, eight and nine-over spells through the middle. It's been really good. But I'm excited to go with the Ashes squad."

Phil Mustard and Scott Borthwick fell caught behind and at deep square-leg respectively to Plunkett for 32 apiece at either end of the 20th over as the Durham score slipped from 80-1 to 84-3.

The second-wicket pair had shared 57 but the hosts failed to recover from their departures and were always fighting to post a score they could defend rather than one they should defend, having lost the toss in conditions assisting bowlers.

Plunkett later had Clark caught at point as he miscued a pull, leaving the score at 158-5 in the 34th over.

Maxwell then took a particular liking to Borthwick's leg-spin, launching him for two sixes in his first two overs to long-on.

By the time Yorkshire had reached 101-2 after 19 overs, losing Alex Lees run out for nine and Andrew Hodd (20) caught behind off Borthwick following a 66-run stand with Maxwell, the Australian had reached his half-century off 36 balls.

Maxwell also shared 50 unbroken for the third wicket with Gary Ballance (26no).