Gaby Lewis scored an excellent century as defending champions Lancashire opened their Metro Bank One-Day Cup women’s competition with a crushing 149-run win against Durham.

In an innings reduced by two overs due to rain, Lewis (131) and Eve Jones (82) excelled in a partnership worth 176 to lead Lancashire to a total of 303 for eight, despite losing a late cluster of wickets to Katherine Fraser.

Durham struggled to build any momentum during their chase, with Emma Lamb (4 for 29) starring with the ball, as the hosts were bowled out for 154, despite the best efforts of Emily Windsor (46).

Lancashire got off to a quick start after being put in as they punished some erratic Durham bowling early on. The hosts struck back though as Sophia Turner removed Lamb who was caught at slip.

Lewis joined Jones at the crease and looked to accelerate the scoring, with the latter playing a beautiful shot down the ground on the way to going past fifty.

Lewis also passed fifty, with a tidy paddle sweep off Katie Levick one of the best shots in her half-century. The duo then notched up their 100 partnership, to the despair of their hosts.

The visiting pair continued their onslaught and Lancashire motored towards 200, with Lewis playing an eye-catching reverse sweep for four.

Durham had a huge chance for a wicket as Jones was dropped on 76 by Lauren Filer, but she offered up another chance, and it was taken as she was caught at long-on off the bowling of Mady Villiers.

Lewis then reached three figures for the seventh time in List A cricket at over a run a ball, but her excellent knock then ended when she was bowled by Phoebe Turner.

Fraser then got into the wickets as she bowled Lancashire captain Ellie Threlkeld. Sophia Turner then struck twice, bowling Fi Morris and Ailsa Lister in the same over, while Fraser bowled Kate Cross and got Sophie Eccleston LBW.

That didn’t stop Lancashire passing 300 as they set Durham 304 to win and the hosts had a difficult start as Tara Norris removed Tahlia Wilson’s off-stump.

Durham skipper Hollie Armitage came to the crease and looked to be positive along Emma Marlow, with the required rate creeping up, but that pressure told as Sophie Ecclestone got Marlow caught and bowled.

Lancashire’s march to victory continued as Grace Potts bowled Villiers for a duck, while Ecclestone struck again as Armitage chipped one straight to Lewis.

Windsor and Bess Heath offered some much-needed resistance for the hosts with a fifty partnership, but the latter was then caught on the boundary, handing Lamb her first.

Lamb struck again as Phoebe Turner was caught and bowled, then Fraser was run out for a duck to deepen Durham’s woe.

Two more wickets fell to Lamb, as Windsor was caught behind four short of a fifty and Filer fell in the same manner.

The visitors got their final wicket when Katie Levick was run out.