Double delight for the leaders
NORTHUMBERLAND CRICKET LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
BLYTH completed the double over Whickham, winning by 40 runs to stay top.
Blyth were struggling on 41-4 before Andrew Ebdale smashed 62, hitting five fours and a six.
Along with captain Mark Lawrence, who hit four fours and three sixes in his quick 47, he repaired the damage.
However, Blyth were soon bowled out for 174, Matthew Rodger claiming 3-18.
The hosts were soon in trouble and continued to lose wickets, managing only 134 in reply.
David Ebdale (3-27) and Lawrence (3-41) did the damage, resistance only offered from Jeff Bowman who made 55.
Third-placed Blue Flames beat bottom club Warkworth by 21 runs to continue to cling on to the leaders.
Ian Clough (4-49) and Martin Clark (3-25) helped to bowl out their hosts for 122.
Warkworth tailender Steven Anderson top-scored on 24 not out as they were bowled out for only 101 in reply. Mirza Balal Baig bagged 3-19.
There was another crucial victory for in-form Corbridge as they saw off hosts Cramlington by four wickets
Second-bottom Cramlington were put into bat and made 123, Jonathan Marshall striking 40 and Adam Langley 31 to be the only batsmen to reach double figures.
Russell Perry claimed 5-25. Ian Black dismissed both openers, David Cox scoring 38, and that led to a flurry of wickets as Corbridge collapsed to 78-5 in reply.
Sixteen-year-old Marcus Sewell (19 not out) and captain Andrew Dover (17 not out) then enabled Corbridge to secure their fourth win in five, taking the score on to 124-6. Langley finished with 4-28.
Berwick won successive matches for the first time this season, beating Stobswood by 82 runs.
Opener Scott Middlemist, who hit a century in the home match, scored 54 this time with No 3 batsman Mason Emery contributing 51.
From 102-2 Berwick collapsed to 162 all out, Ian Watson with 5-37.
In reply, Stobswood fell to an astonishing 8-6 but eventually managed to progress to 80. James Thompson did the early damage, finishing with 6-32 for the borders club - who now leapfrog Stobswood near the bottom.
Ashington Rugby won at home against GEMs by seven wickets.
Javed Mirza hit 49 but GEMs were bowled out for 144.
Lewis Tanney was the pick of the bowlers with 3-41.
Opener Adam Peacock made 44 before Callum Milburn (20 not out) and Lewis Tanney (28 not out) took the hosts to 145-3.
Second-placed Backworth raced to a 10-wicket success at home against Blagdon Park.
Haaris Ahmed, with an unbeaten 31, pushed the visitors up to 121-8 but Backworth required only 25 overs to reach their target.