DURHAM MOVE UP AS BOWLERS SAVE THE DAY
CONN AND MACDONALD EARN VICTORY AFTER BATSMEN STRUGGLE TO JUST 82 ALL OUT
First Division leaders Seaham Park took 14 points in their draw at Bill Quay on Saturday.
The home side made 168 all out, with Josh Eaton scoring 58 and Kevin South 43, with Dale Shaw claiming 3-33.
Seaham Park made 1486 in reply mainly thanks to Michael McNicholas (37) and Shaw(39 not out), with Alan Mustard returning 3-31.
Tudhoe in second place, gathered 14 points from their drawn game at home to Easington, who drop to fourth.
Daniel Thexton with 44 and a century from Ian Grainger (123 not out), ensured a big score of 253-8.
In reply, Easington made 146-4, with John Leslie scoring 34 and Javed Joshi 64 not out, to save the game.
Those two draws allowed Durham City to catch up slightly and move into third position, with a narrow seven-run win at Horden.
The visitors could only make 82 all out, thanks to bowlers Lal Kumar (4-22) and Scott Birks an excellent 4-8 - with Jacob McCann top scoring with only 20.
However, City bowled well and the home side fell agonisingly short, making just 75 all out.
Ian Conn took 5-6 and Rob Macdonald 3-24 to win the game.
Esh Winning are into fifth place after a fine seven-wicket win at Whiteleas, despite Owen Peterson scoring 95 for the home side.
They chased down 197 for the loss of just three wickets, thanks to David Lawlor making 68 not out and Eddie Watson scoring 57.
Philadelphia drew their home game with Littletown, after the visitors amassed 197 all out, thanks to 62 runs from opener Matt Dench and 30 from Phillip Bennett.
Zohaib Shera took 4-49 and Stevie Wright returned 3-39, with the ball.
Phili could only manage to score 127-8, with opener Shaun Hauxwell top scoring on 40, to hold out for the draw, despite Archit Goenka taking an excellent 5-27.
Castle Eden also drew with Dawdon. Eden batted first and 187-7, thanks to opener Liam Irwin (44), Keith Bailey (39) and Phillip Wimpenny (32), with Steven Gale taking 3-59 with the ball.
In reply, bottom club Dawdon were 158-7 and made a good draw, with Gale scoring 43, ably backed up by Andrew Anderson 37. Ryan Ball claimed 3-38 with the ball.
In Division Two, leaders Crook Town won again, this time at home to Peterlee by 72 runs.
Crook had first knock and scored a decent 176-9, thanks to an excellent 93 from Andrew Pratt and 39 from Stuart Newton. David Craig returned an excellent 5-31 with the ball.
In reply, Peterlee could only muster 104 all out, thanks to opening bowler Liam Stephens taking 4-32 and Andrew Robinson returning 3-16.
Opening bat Thomas Nicholson top scored with 33, including six fours and a six, off 24 balls.
Ushaw Moor are up to second place, with a narrow 27run home win over Marsden, who drop to third.
The ‘match of the day’ began with Ushaw having first knock and they made a modest 132 all out. Peter Maddison, with 34 not out, kept the innings together, with Patrick Stephenson hitting 29, opener Mike Thorpe with 24 and Aaron Proud 22.
Michael Elliott returned 4-39 with the ball and James Sneller took 3-43.
Marsden then started brightly with Nisal Francisco making 25 and Chris Mann 17, but Stephen Hancock took 3-13, to disrupt them. Elliott (21) and Sneller (19) tried in vain, as Thorpe returned a match-winning 3-7 late on to bowl them out for 105.
Evenwood kept up the chase with an easy win at Murton.
They bowled the home side for just 38 runs, with Shaz Mahmood taking a brilliant 6-14 and TW Teasdale returning 4-20.
Owen Peddlety then scored 16 not out and Luke Bannister 12 not out, to easily see their side home, for the win.
Hylton had to settle for a draw at Boldon CA after scoring 211-3 declared.
Ben Taylor hit 30, Adam Bewick an excellent 76, Kevin Mustard 37 and Marlon Black 42 not out.
The home side made 1486, to earn a creditable draw, with Stuart Smith scoring a brilliant 83 and Andrew O’Connell chipping in with 30 runs to his name.
Bottom club Silksworth were skittled for just 52, in their ‘local derby’ with Ryhope.
Gary McAvoy top scored with just 13 and Jonny Errington took an excellent 6-22.
Ryhope though, struggled to knock off the runs, with Dominic Wilson (3-13) and Nazeer Nisthar (2-33) making early inroads into their batting.
However, a cool head was needed and Christopher Lawrence batting at number three, made 24 not out, including five fours, to steer his side home for the win, totalling 53-6, off a hectic 13 overs.