South North prove to be a Street ahead

SOUTH NORTHUMBERLAND boosted their Dukes NEPL Premier Division title hopes with a four-wicket win over visitors Chester-le-Street.

The Cestrians, batting first, made a good start – openers John Coxon (46) and Jacob McCann (81) putting on 111 for the first wicket.

Matthew Cranston then added 57 as they totalled 231-8.

For the reigning champions and leaders, Solomon Bell hit 47 and Christopher Hewison 50 as they eventually reached 235-6.

Newcastle made a positive start at Ashbrooke after deciding to bat first against Sunderland.

Openers Ben Robinson (69) and Bobby Green (31) put on 88 for the first wicket.

Jacques Du Toit (left) then smashed 64 from 29 balls and Joe Anderson struck 58 not out in a final total of 287-4.

The home side started well, opener Dan Shurben posting 91 and Chris Youlden 48, but Will Taylor kept chipping away (4-23) and they ended up on 231-9.

Burnopfield collapsed to 43-7 in a low-scoring match at Eppleton as Dean Musther claimed 4-20 and they were eventually all out for just 102.

The home side then also struggled as Matthew Oswell claimed 4-26 but 35 not out from Max Whinskill steered his team to 112-5 and victory.

Whitburn’s Vishal Tripathi made 97 runs at home to Hetton Lyons.

Former Durham batsman Jack Burnham cracked 87 from 66 balls and Kevin D’Almeida 100 from 69 balls, which included 11 fours and four sixes, to guide them to a huge total of 330-8.

The Lyons fell short on 246 all out, thanks to Adam May taking 3-32.

Felling struggled at home to Benwell Hill, Max Williamson taking 3-39 early on.

However, Waqas Ali contributed 51 and Sebastian Allison added 46 to help them amass 186 all out, Callum Harding with 4-39.

The Hill lost wickets regularly, due to Sebastian Allison taking 4-35 but Peter Halliday with an important 69 gave them hope.

However, with one run required the Newcastle side lost its last wicket and ended up 185 all out.