GREAT EIGHT FOR HUSSAIN
Faizan Hussain bowled Durham Academy to victory over South Shields with a stunning display.
He ripped the visitors apart with his left arm spin bowling, taking a brilliant 8-30 off 12 overs, to reduce the visitors to just 75 all out.
Earlier, The Academy had posted 191-8, thanks to Scott Steel making 54 and Ross Greenwell 34, with Jamie Dass adding 38 not out near the end.
Sam Taylor-Gell was the pick of the Shields bowling, taking 3-30.
Chester-le-Street racked up 227-7 off 49 overs and probably batted just too long against Felling.
Openers Kyle Davis (52) and George Harrison (69) put on 98 runs for the first wicket, with Craig Stephenson the pick of the bowling, returning 4-75.
Felling, in reply, clung on for the draw at 80-9, with the Cestrians unable to get the last wicket despite all the efforts of Quentin Hughes (544) and John Harrison (3-14).
The draw enabled the visitors to claw back three points on South Shields and they are now just 13 points behind them, at the bottom of the table.
Hetton Lyons won their derby match at home to local rivals Eppleton.
They now move into fifth position, after posting 239-5, thanks to 94 runs from skipper Jarvis Clay, 77 from Chris Martin and 34 not out from Robert Talbot.
Although the visitors batted well making 196 all out, they well short in the end, despite Luke Henderson making 47 and Paul Coughlin 42. Ben Whitehead was the pick of the bowling, taking 5-33 with Robert Talbot backing him up with 3-47, to help win the game by 43 runs.
Leaders South North have one hand on the title trophy with a 57-point cushion over second-placed Newcastle, having beating them at home, by four wickets.
Asked to bat first, the visitors made 150-6 off 40 overs, with Joshua Phillipe top scoring with 31 and Lee Crozier returning 3-43.
There was solid batting from the home side, in Callum MacLeod (37), John Graham (39) and 32 not out from Rob Peyton to ease their side to victory, despite 3-43 from Jacques Du Toit.
Tynemouth beat visiting Stockton, who only managed 102 all out, with Christopher Hooker the top scorer with 28 runs.
On the bowling front, Finn Lonnberg took 5-15 and in reply, the home side squeezed home by three wickets in a total of 103-7, thanks to Stuart Poynter’s 54, with George Harding taking 3-43.
In the first division, Seaham Harbour now look doomed after losing their relegation clash with Blaydon by eight wickets.
Needing to win to reduce the now 86-point gap, they made 145-6 thanks to Mark Marwood scoring 61.
However, the visitors batted well, and 48 from Paul Underwood and 55 not out from Paul Browne sealed victory for the visitors.
Brandon and Sacriston’s game was rained off, allowing Burnopfield to take advantage with a seven-wicket win at home to Boldon which moves them into second place, while Boldon drop to fifth.
Boldon batted first and made 145 all out thanks to Umar Waheed scoring 69 and Paul Leonard 22, with Gareth Breese taking 3-40 and Lee Whitfield an excellent 4-8.
Openers James Radcliffe (35) and Cole Pearce led a steady reply and then Breese with the bat blasted 61 not out, to win the game.
Burnmoor also took advantage, by winning at home to Washington.
The home side posted a healthy 205-8, thanks to Steven Meek hitting 70 and Gareth Harte making 47. Josh Wilson returned decent figures of 4-29.
The visitors were then bowled out for just 94, with Meek taking an excellent 5-28 with the ball, with only Thomas Colledge resisting with 36.