Durham Coast League: MURTON have the championship in their sights after winning at Peterlee and seeing nearest challengers Silksworth falter.

The reigning champions dominated and, after declaring with 208-4 on the board from only 38 overs, sent Peterlee crashing to 27 all out in only 14.3 overs.

Min Mahil, a former Peterlee player, struck 11 boundaries in an unbeaten 105 and Graeme Robson struck six fours adding 43 when the Murton batsmen made merry.

How different it was when Peterlee went to the wicket. They were destroyed by Calvin Stephenson who returned his best figures of the season with an incredible seven wickets for just five runs in 7.3 overs.

Keith Chapman mopped up the other three and the innings folded in double quick time.

Silksworth are now 36 points adrift of Murton after crashing to a huge defeat at the hands of Hylton. Chris Allen struck a couple of sixes and 11 fours in 94 and Stephen Merrington had one six and eight boundaries making 65 as Hylton progressed to 233-6.

In view of the total chalked up against his side, Stephen Wright's 5-30 in 14 overs was indeed a creditable performance.

David Batty and Brian Conlon quickly had Silksworth on the defensive and it was all over after 38 overs with 72 runs on top.

Dawdon are now joint second with Silksworth despite being held to a draw at Bill Quay.

Shoaib Akhtar (65), Craig Price (37) and Calvin McNicholas (34) led Dawdon past the 200 mark despite the ever-green Chris Pleasants taking seven wickets for 99 runs.

Colin Smith and David Orridge both made 34 as Quay's reply limped to 116-8. Five of the wickets were taken by man-of-the-match Akhtar for just 20 runs.

Castle Eden wasted no time securing a ten-wicket victory at Houghton who were all out for 99 as John Malkin picked up four wickets. Gerard Magee crashed an unbeaten 73 in partnership with Malkin.

Chris Allen took five wickets and George Lincoln three as Seaham Park went down by 53 runs to Boldon CA despite a useful opening innings of 47 by Umer Akhtar. Brothers Ian (40) and Karl Bellerby (37) were prominent for Boldon as was Lincoln, whose contribution of 44 took the total to almost 200.

David Wilson, who took three wickets for just 16 runs and also hit a half century, starred in Easington's four-wicket victory at home to Ryhope whose 156-9 declared included contributions of 32 from Graeme Smith and 30 apiece by David Hanson and John Minnis.