One Moor win will be enough to retain title
LEADERS Burnmoor are just one win away from retaining the Premier Division title after beating Hetton Lyons by 26 runs.
Deciding to bat first, the champions slumped to 37-3 at one stage as Cameron Greenwood claimed two early wickets.
However, Marcus Brown hit 66 and Paul Craig 49, the pair putting on 121 for the fourth wicket.
They eventually made 224-8, Robert Talbot the pick of the Hetton bowling in claiming 3-57.
The Lyons then slumped to 55-5 thanks to Josh Coughlin (3-21) and Ross Greenwell (3-25).
Talbot then scored 80 from 72 balls to get the Wearsiders back into the game - but they were all out for 198, allowing the home side to claim the 20 points.
The title is now within Burnmoor’s grasp after nearest challengers South Northumberland lost at Newcastle neighbours Benwell Hill.
South North chose to bat first and Chris Hewison posted 59 and skipper Adam Cragg 36 as they put on 90 for the fourth wicket.
Mohsin Mukhtar then claimed 3-31 and Callum Harding 4-46 to restrict the visitors to 222 all out.
The Hill started well as Kyle
Coetzer (71) and Mohsin Mukhtar (49) put on 121 for the opening wicket.
However, they began to lose wickets and needed nine runs from the last over to win with seven wickets down.
Needing three to win off the last ball, skipper Peter Halliday then hit a six - the Hill finishing on 226-8 to win by two wickets.
In the big game at the bottom, Burnopfield increased their survival hopes by beating visitors Washington, who were dragged deeper into the relegation mire.
Opener John Oswell posted a breezy 53 from 51 balls to give his team a solid start, then Mitchell Killeen amassed 92 not out from 98 balls - which included 10 fours.
With Callum Brown making 34 late on, they totalled 226-7, while Mark Bell took the bowling honours with 3-52.
Washington were then reduced to 38-3 in reply but Michael Nunn made 74 and they eased their way back into the game - and with Joe Thompson adding 35 they required 28 runs from the last four overs.
However, they fell short by 12 runs and were all out for 214.
Whitburn ensured their premiership survival with victory at Eppleton.
Jack Burnham hammered 101 from 67 balls, which included 11 fours and six sixes, Ross Richardson 58 and Kieran Waterson 41 in their total of 283 - Colin Mann claiming 3-61 and Sadaf Hussain 3-36 .
The home side was 118-5 at one stage. Sadaf Hussain then struck 60 to get them back on track but Burnham claimed 4-47 as the Hetton side was all out for 261.
Sacriston boosted their survival hopes, winning at home to Tynemouth by nine wickets.
NEW Division One leaders Sunderland were promoted as they reached an impressive 275-8 at home to Ashington.
Safyaan Sharif scored a brilliant 107 not out from 94 balls, which included eight fours and five sixes.
For Ashington, Sean McCafferty hit 45 and James Harmison smashed 74 not out - but with all the bowlers chipping in with two wickets each they were eventually pegged back to 215-9.