Sacriston held to draw as Sunderland finish on 65-7

First Division leaders Sacriston and second-placed Brandon both drew their games this weekend.

Matthew Brown, with 23, top scored for Brandon, as they made 136-9 at Washington, with Malinga Surappulige in excellent form taking 4-12, plus Ashley Thorpe returning 3-33.

In reply, Washington scored 91-3, thanks to 33 not out from Ben Mussett.

Sacriston made 153-8 against Sunderland, with Reece Carr scoring 40 from 57 balls, with Zaheer Shahbaz returning 3-30.

The visitors clung on for the draw with 65-7, despite Christopher Rushton’s opening spell of 3-16.

It’s getting tight at the top and particularly second position, as Boldon in third, defeated Willington by 41 runs.

They made 149, with Barry McCarthy scoring 45, Umar Waheed 19 and Jonathan Shakespeare also adding 19 late in the innings, but Calvin Stephenson kept them in check with 4-36.

In reply, Willington only made 108 all out, with Shakespeare taking 3-17 and Ian Male returning 3-10.

On the batting front, Peter Leggett with 23 and Elliott Foster 20, put on 25 together, but it was not enough.

Burnopfield are in fourth after their win at Blaydon by four wickets. The home side made 165-9, with Neil Browne making a good 66 and Grant Nicholson adding 20 near the end of the innings, with Neil Killeen on fire, taking 5-24 in the bowling department.

The visitors then made 166-6, thanks to James Radcliffe (35) and skipper Gareth Breese with 46 not out, to ease side home.

Burnmoor, in fifth, won at lowly Mainsforth by seven wickets, who are just 11 points clear of bottom club Seaham Harbour.

The home side had first knock and scored just 88 runs, with Tom Orton scoring 40 of those runs.

Scott Burgess was the pick of the bowling, taking 4-22.

The visitors then made 89-3 to win the game, thanks to Alan Worthy scoring 33 and Steven Meek top scored with 43.

Seaham Harbour lost again, this time at Gateshead Fell, by eight wickets.

They batted first and made a modest 136-8, with Marc Symington scoring 36 and Andrew Stephenson 21. On the bowling front, Andrew Porter returned 3-24, with Graham Onions taking 2-17.

Fell soon wrapped the game up, with Stephen Devenport scoring 43 and Robert Stacey 51.