Yorkshire were outmuscled with bat and ball by Durham as their Friends Life t20 hopes took a significant blow with a 76-run loss.

Phil Mustard’s brilliant 91 off 52 balls realistically ended the Vikings’ quarter-final bid. But they are still mathematically in contention in the North Division with five matches to play, starting against Derbyshire at Chesterfield on Sunday.

Azeem Rafiq’s side conceded 215-6 after electing to bowl first, the county’s equal third-worst performance with the ball.

And although Gary Ballance played superbly, the Vikings never looked like chasing down 216 as they suffered a third defeat from five matches.

After slipping to 22-3 after four overs of their chase, they finished on 139-8. Ballance top-scored with a career-best 68 off 39 balls.

Mustard stunned Yorkshire with 11 fours and three sixes to help post his side’s highest individual score in this format. Amazingly in ten years of Twenty20, 83 for Herschelle Gibbs against Derbyshire last year was their previous best.

On the way to a 26-ball half-century, the former England limited-overs wicketkeeper-batsman took a particular liking to in-form Jack Brooks, who he hit for two sixes and three fours in the fourth over the innings which went for 27.

Mustard shared blistering partnerships of 62 inside six overs for the first wicket with Mark Stoneman and 83 inside eight for the second with Scott Borthwick, who added 35 off 18.

Gordon Muchall finished with 27 not out off 16 balls after 23 off 12 from Ben Stokes.

Although Yorkshire collapsed in their chase, it was their bowlers – Ryan Sidebottom aside – who were to blame for this defeat. They gave width too freely and conceded 27 fours and four sixes in all.

Sidebottom’s 1-29 from four overs meant he was the only bowler who conceded less than nine runs per over.

Phil Jaques, Joe Sayers and Dan Hodgson all fell in the first four overs of the chase but they had been placed under serious pressure.

Andrew Hodd was promoted up the order but he was bowled by Gareth Breese to leave the score at 51-4 in the ninth over.

Ballance played with power over mid-wicket and invention as he hit seven fours and three sixes to take his side into three figures in the 13th over.

But once he miscued Breese high to mid-off, leaving the score at 101-5 in the same over, Yorkshire were goners. Breese, Will Smith and Chris Rushworth all took two wickets.