Regulation victories for the top four sides in the NEPL Premier Division meant little change in the pecking order, with the excitement reserved for the First Division where Eppleton pulled off a dramatic one-run victory to enhance their promotion hopes.

That win came at Ashbrooke where hosts Sunderland gave the table-toppers a fright before their last four wickets crashed for 11 runs to lose a game they had in the bag.

The match featured two splendid centuries, Kamran Shah hitting 11 fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 121 as he shared an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 116 with Craig Scurr (66no from 50 balls) which encouraged Eppleton to declare on 264-5 after 52 overs.

With 53 overs to chase, Sunderland confidently rattled to 169-2, the charge led by Bravesh Shetty.

The Indian went made 120 from 122 balls, but when he became the seventh wicket to fall with the score on 252, and just 13 more needed for the win, the nerves kicked in as David Wilkinson turned the screw.

A run out, and two more wickets for Wilkinson, who finished with a match turning 5-49, saw ecstatic Eppleton claim the victory wicket with three balls remaining.

Wins for Burnmoor, Washington and Willington narrowed the championship field down to four, with Eppleton enjoying a 12 point advantage heading into the final half dozen games.

In the top flight, South North added a tenth victory of the summer to their unbeaten record, defeating hosts Tynemouth by 56 runs with Marcus North (71) setting things up for Dave Rutherford (5-33) and Jonny Wightman (4-45) to apply the winning touches.

Chester-le-Street (173-9) ensured no ground was lost to the Bulls as they won at Blaydon by 24 runs, Andrew Smith’s 62-ball 60 proving pivotal as the Cestrians lost six wickets for 47 when Ryan Buckley (5-37 from 17 overs) got at them. Mark Turner (4-44) and Simon Birtwisle (3-35) then condemned the home side to more relegation worries.

Blaydon’s defeat left them 26 points above bottom club Gateshead Fell, who earned a draw from their home game against Stockton, a result which reduced the gap between themselves and their fellow strugglers by four points.

Graham Onions, back playing for his home club for the day, presented early problems before Jamie Harrison and Jimmy Ward scored half centuries to provide the Teessiders with a clear foothold in the game. Onions ended with 4-49 from a 14 over spell, but Stockton registered a 60-over total of 244-8, enough to encourage a declaration.

The Fell then worked themselves into a promising position, with anchor opener Rob Stacey (73 from 163 balls) and Onions (41 from 64 balls) lifting the home team to 143-3 with a fourth wicket stand of 78. But once Jimmy Ward (4-19) removed both it was backs to the wall as five wickets went down for 37 runs, and Gateshead were happy enough to hold on to what they had as they closed out on 196-8.