Five-star Stewart leads the attack to sink Ryhope
Proud and Jack Mensforth took three wickets apiece.
The home side then had Arron Proud to thank for nearly getting them home for the win, scoring a brilliant 91 from 73 balls, which included nine fours and six sixes. However, they came up five runs short on 173 all out, as Jordan Grosert claimed 4-27 and Gordon Muchall 3-28.
Peterlee entertained Tudhoe and asked the visitors to bat first on winning the toss. Although opener William Jewitt made 28, it was Daniel Thexton with a majestic century (105no), to claim the man of the match award. He hit seven fours and four sixes off just 96 balls, despite Kieran Buck claiming 3-41 and Joseph Spalding 4-27 in a good score of 189-9.
The home side never got going as Gavin Paton claimed an excellent 5-12. Stephen Brown and Thexton claimed two wickets each in a final total of 93 all out.
Ushaw Moor welcomed Esh Winning to the Recreation Ground, but were hammered by nine wickets. The home side managed just 56 all out, with top scorer Josh Clifford making 10, while Michael Bussey claimed 3-14 and UlHaq took 4-8, from just seven overs and Billy Storey also chipped in with 2-7.
Opening batsman Stuart Hall then made a brisk 35 not out, for an easy win with a total of 57-1.
Easington travelled to Littletown to play at their Cross Street Ground and were asked to bat first. Both openers were out for nought and they managed to get up to 91 all out, thanks to Omar Shahid (24) and Ian Rickaby (26), with Richard Eve (4-20) and David Craig (4-40), in splendid form with the ball.
Littletown then made light work of the runs required, as opener Matt Dench hit 43 not out, which included nine fours to see his side home to victory on 95-2 from just 14.4 overs.
Evenwood entertained Murton at the Welfare Ground, won the toss and put 184-5 on the board. Thomas Teesdale Jnr scored 34 and fellow opener Luke Bannister 46, to set them on their way, whilst Josh Greenfield (3-42) took the bowling honours.
Murton were well short of their target on 107 all out. Gavin Milne’s 27 and Richard Lowes’ 41 not out were not enough, as man of the match Thomas Teesdale Jnr claimed 4-8 with the ball, backed up by Regan Maughan who took 3-26 to win the game for their side by 77 runs.
Hartlepool began their Darlington Building Society NYSD ECB Premier League season at home to Middlesbrough at Park Drive, and put the visitors in first.
Skipper Matthew Bell made 31 and Rhys Ditta scored 50 not out from 105 balls in holding the innings together and they eventually made 173 all out. On the bowling front, James Lowe claimed 4-27 and Paul Braithwaite 4-33.
In reply, Pools started poorly and although James Lowe made 32 and George Relton 26, they were bowled out for just 116 to lose by 57 runs. Toby Bullock was the chief culprit as he took an excellent 5-16, while Harry Williams claimed 3-36, to conclude an impressive bowling performance.
In Division One, relegated Seaton Carew began with a tough match at Bishop Auckland but they scraped home by two wickets.
Bishops batted first and Scott Oldfield led the way with 75 from 121 balls, which included six fours and two sixes, in a total of 154 all out. On the bowling front, Tom Windsor with 4-22 and Danny Thomas 3-33, took the plaudits.
In reply, Seaton’s top order struggled to get going and it was left to Danny Thomas to make 28 not out, in a crucial ninth wicket partnership of 24 with Harry Cook (10no), to win the match by two wickets finishing on 158-8. Scott Oldfield returned 3-46.