Erasmus stars with bat and ball to inspire Eppleton success
Eppleton claimed 25 points to move within two of sixthplaced neighbours Hetton Lyons in the Premier Division on Saturday.
They impressively beat Durham Academy by four wickets at Church Road.
The match was reduced in overs, like all the others, and Academy were all out for 174 in 44.2 overs, led by Sol Bell (43, with seven fours), Bilal Baig (41, with two fours and four sixes, off 28 balls), Jamie Dass (34) and Matthew Oswell (23).
Jandre Erasmus snaffled 3-26 and Craig Scurr 3-46, while Joe Coyne took 2-38 and Alex Simpson 1-30.
Eppleton, with 35 overs to bat, lost both openers cheaply, but Erasmus’s outstanding, undefeated 56 off 48 balls, with seven fours and a six, steered them to victory after 31.5 overs.
Simpson (27), Scurr (23), Dean Musther (19no) and Piers Davison (18) offered the best support.
Oswell, Brodie Glendinning, Faizan Hussain, Dass, Tom Merryweather and Bang all struck.
South Northumberland maintained their title push with a nine-wicket victory at Hetton Lyons in another match reduced in overs.
Lyons did not get going and the loss of three wickets for eight runs saw them scrapping to reach 109-7 in 32 overs.
Captain Jarvis Clay hit 25, with two fours, backed by Adam Shaw (20no) and Ben Whitehead (17no), who added an unbeaten 32 at the end. Dominic Thomson made 16. Lee Crozier grabbed 3-23, with Calum MacLeod taking 2-13 in seven overs.
Robert Talbot removed Simon Birtwisle for 16, but South North cruised to victory in the 15th over as Marcus North hit seven fours and a six in a 46-ball 58 not out, with MacLeod unbeaten on 31 off 25 balls.
Rain intervened across the First Division programme, with none of Saturday’s matches completed. Washington managed 130-4 in 24 overs before rain called a halt to their game against a Seaham Harbour side looking to make it two wins on the trot.
The Harraton outfit were led by Abhijal Mansingh’s unbeaten 44, from 64 balls, with three boundaries.
Malinga Surappulige added 35 off 29 balls, helped by four fours and a six, in a 71-run partnership for the second wicket, while Josh Wilson had a four and a six in a 24-ball knock of 29.
Marc Symington took 2-42 for Harbour, with Jack Lacey and Nathan Corkhill also striking.
Third-placed Burnmoor declared on 130-6 after 36.1 overs away to Brandon, but were unable to have a crack at the home side as the weather took centre stage.
Mackenzie Wright, batting at six, top-scored with an unbeaten 36, off 37 balls, with four boundaries.
Steven Meek made 25, with three fours, with Riley Blunt adding 19 in 20 balls, Samiullah Khan hitting 16 and Paul Craig 13.
Ryan Nicholson (2-35) and Ryan Green (2-39) were the pick of the bowlers, while Moin Ashraf and Jordan Grosert also striking.
Burnopfield’s game at leaders Sacriston lasted just 11.1 overs, with the visitors making 38-1. Cole Pearce was run out for 13 by Graham Hubber, with James Radcliffe unbeaten on 18.
The game only began at 4pm, lasting just 40 minutes until the rain intervened.
Boldon, in fourth, were 611 at Gateshead Fell when the rain came.
At the bottom, Mainsforth looked in trouble at home to Blaydon, when they were dismissed for 70, with four wickets apiece for Gary Stewart and Joseph Reynolds.
But they escaped defeat with the match abandoned.