LEADGATE are still out in front at the top of the 3-D Cricket Durham County League following their big win over Kimblesworth.

Although Faruqh Iqbal took four wickets and Nigel Darling six, Leadgate still posted 196 with most of the runs coming from David Young, 70, Andrew Hemingway, 44, and Bilal Rana, 34. Kimblesworth managed 111-9 in reply as Rana took 4-40 and Alan Reeve 3-28.

Andrew Cochrane, 52, and David Leslie, 30no, steered Langley Park to an eight-wickets win at Mainsforth whose 166-4 featured a half century by Gary Purcell.

Willington enjoyed a rare success defeating Brandon by 11 runs. Karl Brown top-scored with 47 in 156-9 with Alan Walker returning 5-34 for Brandon, who were pegged to 145-9 including 37 by Ian Johnson.

Tudhoe squeezed home by just four runs over Esh Winning. Manjraker, 63, enabled Tudhoe to finish on 159-6 and replying Esh Winning were all out for just 155 as Manjraker claimed five wickets.

Balti Watts and Ian Jackson shared the 10 wickets in Ushaw Moor's 56-runs success at home to Crook Town who were all out for 112 chasing a target of 169.

Watts also scored 34 but the highlight of the Ushaw Moor innings was an unbeaten 61 by opener David Armstrong.

There were runs galore when Chester-le-Street met Stockton at Ropery Lane in the Foster's North- East Premier League.

Youngster Daniel Shurben recorded his first century for the Cestrians and professional Ashley Thorpe carried his bat for 179 when a total of 292-1 was achieved.

Dawnley Joseph, who has been in magnificent form for Stockton, was caught after making 62 and the game ended in a draw with Stockton on 224-9 including an unbeaten 47 by Chris Hooker.

Ashley Thorpe and Steve Merrington, who shared seven wickets, almost snatched victory for the Cestrians.

Durham Academy overtook South Northumberland's 188 all out with four wickets to spare. Highlight of the innings was an undefeated 56 by the former Hetton Lyons player Gary Scott.

When South North batted first, former captain Ian Gilthorpe top scored with 42. For the Academy Jonathan Kean claimed 5-41.

Sean Ackermann was in magnificent form to help keep Annfield Plain's championship challenge on course. He batted throughout and finished with 163 not out as the Plain posted 276-5 in their 194-runs victory over Burnopfield in the Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League.

For good measure Ackermann also picked up four cheap wickets.

Tynedale remain top of the table although they had to work for their four-wickets win at Morpeth.

Last week, Annfield Plain Cricket Club had a mixed set of results in league and cup matches. On Monday a weakened 1st XI lost at Mainsforth in the Tom Burn Cup, while the Juniors continued their winning ways in the league.

Tuesday saw another victory for the U15s at home to Greenside, and on Wednesday the 1st XI beat Consett to proceed into the semi-final of the league cup. The semi-final will be at Annfield Plain against Ashington on Wednesday, July 19, at 6pm.

Thursday saw the Juniors go into the league cup final, with a nine-wickets win against Sacriston. The final is at Greenside on Thur-sday, July 13, 6pm. As the juniors progressed, the 1st XI lost a cup match on the last ball. This time they went out of the Regency Windows Cup at Eppleton.

On Friday, Annfield 1st Xl returned to winning ways as they progressed into the semi-final of the A W Austin Cup by defeating Bishop Auckland. The semi-final will be at Annfield Plain on July 12 against Burnmoor at 6pm.

Annfield's games at Enterprise Park are: Saturday, July 8: 1st Xl v Ryton, 2pm; Sunday, July 9: U13 v Greenside, 10am; Monday, July 10: Juniors v Blaydon, 6pm; Wednes-day, July 12: 1st Xl Cup semi-final, 6pm