Sharif stars as Sunderland strengthen position at top
Sunderland march on at the top of the North East Division One as they piled on the runs at home to Crook.
Opener Ben Shurben was in good form scoring 73, slam added 53 and Safya an Sharif 73, for a final total of 2668, while Will Barn ham claimed 4-90 and Steve Chapman 3-54, with the ball.
The visitors started well with Steve Chapman scoring 53, but Sharif , with 3-41, did the main damage and they were all out for 157, as Sunderland won by 109 runs.
Boldon lost by three wickets at home to Newcastle. They made 186-6, led by Joseph Forster’s 49. The visitors were reduced to 29-3, but Matthew Stewart (45) and Jesse Tashk off (68) saw them home.
Lanchester eased their relegation worries, as Graham Brinton made 50 in his side’s 128 all out at Philadelphia, Luke Robinson (3-22) and Mayank Mishra (5-7) doing the damage. Phili were all out for just 95, Callum Barnes taking 5-19.
In the Premier Division, the big game at the top ended in stalemate, as South Northumberland decided to bat first at Burnmoor. Solomon Bell hit 61 and Adam Cragg 78 to help them to 213-9 declared. Josh Coughlin and Craig Stephenson shared six wickets between them. Sean Tindale then struck three early blows (3-49), but Ryan Pringle made 59 not out, to save the game for the hosts, finishing on 151-8.
Benwell Hill are chasing down the top two, as they beat Washington. Openers Thomas College (38) and Michael Nunn (22), put on 63 for the first wicket. Charlie Scott then made 61 to get them up to 2218, while Kyle Coetzer claimed 3-76 and Mohsin Mukhtar 3-18. The Hill started well, with Angus Guy making 63 and Mohsin Mukhtar 39. Coetzer then scored 58 not out alongside Finn McCreath who also made 58 not out, to win the game by eight wickets.
Chester-le-Street skittled Burn op field for just 60 and are not out of the title race yet, John Harrison with 4-23 and Amaan UlHaq 3-5 doing the damage. Robbie Dawson then made 30 not out, as the Cestrians won by nine wickets.
Hetton Lyons were on fire at Sacriston, as openers Karl Turner (111) and Jar vis Clay (67) put on 147 for the first wicket. Ben Mckinney then added 38 and Robert Talbot smashed 59 from 24 balls, as they declared on 294-3. The home side were then reduced to 82-5, thanks to Gareth Wade, who claimed 5-64. Nathan Hall then scored 41 and Philip Peel 33 not out, but they were eventually all out for 170, to lose by 124 runs.
Whit burn eased their relegation worries at Tyne mouth. The home side made good progress after being 0-2, as Ben Debnam made 68 and skipper Matthew Brown 51, as they put on 94 runs for the third wicket. Sam Robson added 30 not out late on and they declared on 185-9. Kieran Watson with 4-39 and Chris Greaves 3-58, were the pick of the bowling. In reply, Adam May in reply scored a useful 67 and skipper Paul Shields made 68 not out, as they put on 113 for the second wicket. The visitors scored the required runs to win by seven wickets.
Felling struggled at Eppleton as they lost early wickets and were all out for 98, as Andrew Ebdale claimed 4-23 and Sadaf Hussain 3-22, with only Sam Witherspoon resisting with 46. Opener Kyle Davis then scored 45 to help his side to a seven-wicket victory.
In Division One of the Durham & North East Cricket League, Esh Winning lead the way, as they chased down a big score at home to Hylton. Gary Braithwaite made 56, Javon Grosvenor 146 and Tom Nixon added 35 not out late on to get his side up to 263-6. In reply, Esh had opener David Lawlor to thank, as he scored 98 not out, with Luke Anderson, with 68, and Omar Shahid’s 51 not out helping them to a sevenwicket win.
South Shields are second, after making a good start at Ushaw Moor. Luke Elliott scored 47, Chris Rainbow 44, Oliver Stedman 47 and Tharusha Fernando 57 to help them to a final score of 268-8, with Gavin Dawson claiming 3-56 with the ball. Ushaw then never really got going, although Lee Hayton did blast 72 not out as they were all out for 157, Fernando taking 4-14.
Marsden decided to bat first at Brandon, but were all out for 131, as Jordan Grosert took 3-26. The home side soon had the points in the bag, as openers Matthew Brown (44) and Chris Peareth (41) scored well in a seven-wicket win.
Littletown batted first at home to Dawdon Welfare, with Jonathan Davis scoring 48 in a total of 181 all out. Tahir Mahmood and Usama Yaqoob shared six wickets between them. In reply, the visitors lost early wickets, but Jamie Cahill with 54 and Craig Price with 55 got them to 179-9, as Shrey Bhatt claimed 3-57.
In Division Two, Seaham Harbour won again to cement their place at the top, as they piled up the runs at home to Silksworth. Nisala Gamage hit 204 not out, while Regan Pattison scored 74 not out, for a 299-run partnership in a total of 328-2. The visitors were all out for 167, with Pattison, Calum Blackford and Joe Carlin taking two wickets apiece.
Ryhope kept themselves well and truly in the promotion race, as Evenwood made first use of the pitch and total led 168 all out.
Thomas Tees dale scored 62 and Flynn Dawson 44, while Jack Tom lin and Kris ti an Summer side shared six wickets. Ryhope responded positively, with Chris Lawrence scoring 49 and Mathew Kirtley 45, as they put on 53 runs for the second wicket, to see them to a five-wicket win.
Mainsforth kept their promotion hopes alive, with a nine-wicket win over Boldon CA, who made 87 all out.
Horde ni nd irene ed of a win to avoid relegation, started well against Tudhoe (156) as opener Adam Dixon smashed 87, backed up by Lewis B room who scored 42 not out from 21 balls as Horden won by six wickets.