Readers Durham County League: It's been a long time in coming but Shildon finally tasted success on Saturday.

They failed to win in 2002 and 2003 and had gone 19 games without victory this season but they at last celebrated at Ushaw Moor.

The home side, without Teneto Willett who has returned to the West Indies because of injury, ended on 131 from 37 overs. Only a few weeks ago, the total might have proved insurmountable but Shildon are playing with a lot more confidence these days.

Gary Davies raised hopes when he struck two sixes and six boundaries in 49 batting at number three before Stuart Henderson added a valuable 20. It was perhaps fitting that captain Lee Douthwaite was at the wicket when the winning run was achieved.

Shildon though left it late. They had just three overs and two wickets in hand after Stephen Milburn returned 4-31 in 12 overs and Brendan Jackson claimed a couple of wickets including that of Davies.

Andrew Metcalfe top-scored with 43, including four boundaries for Ushaw Moor and in the Shildon attack, former Bishop Auckland player Hiram Marambe took 4-42 in 8.3 overs and Cameron Pearce 3-26 from an economical ten-over spell.

Evenwood still enjoy a 26-point lead at the top. Their latest win came at Etherley who suffered an eight-wicket defeat despite Yasas Tillakaratne recording three sixes and three fours in an unbeaten 70.

The innings produced only a total of 155 in 43 overs and Evenwood romped home losing just a couple of wickets in 35 overs. Billy Teasdale (63) and Chris Peareth (34) gave the innings a perfect start and the task was completed by Neil Teasdale (53 not out) and Dale Butler who formed an unbroken third wicket partnership.

Kimblesworth remain second after defeating Crook Town by six wickets. Stephen Ball (55) scored more than half the Crook total of 102 as Australian Brendan Clancy captured five wickets for 30 runs.

Shahid Anwar dominated Tudhoe's success against Sedgefield. Two sixes and 11 fours flowed from his bat as he struck 94 which together with 44 by Simon Davies propelled the home side to 208-6 from the full 45 overs.

Stefan Swanoepol made a successful return to the Sedgefield line-up. He claimed four of the six wickets to fall for 66 runs in 11 overs and then made his team's top score of 31 but the innings only produced 142 runs as Chris Galsper and man-of-the-match Anwar shared seven wickets.

Glasper's analysis of 3-32 was compiled in nine overs while Anwar bowled 12 overs, five of them maidens, conceding just 22 runs for four wickets.

There was a close finish at Willington who had only eight runs to spare over Mainsforth. Gary Cummings struck one six and seven boundaries out of 70, leading the home side to 165-9, even though John Cavanagh returned figures of 6-58 in the Mainsforth attack.

Replying, the visitors were always in with a chance especially after Gary Purcell opened with 56 which included nine fours but eventually the innings only managed 157 all out with one ball of the 45 overs remaining.

Jim Allenby and Scott Hopson had identical figures of 4-35 when Langley Park ended on 143 from 40.2 overs. Stephen Gray top-scored with 51 including five boundaries and replying, Brandon left it late, winning with just a couple of balls to spare.