Another maximum points return took Consett to joint top of the early table where they share the honour with Swalwell, who turned in an ominous performance when defeating title-holders Tynedale.

Newly-promoted Bedlington are finding it tough, their six wicket defeat at the hands of Consett making it two reverses in a row, but at least they didn’t let their opponents have it all their own way despite being bowled out for a modest 88 in 33.1 overs.

A three-pronged strike force did the job for the hosts with the ball, Gary Hunter (3-4), Andrew Cox (3-25) and Rob Hassan (3-15) sharing nine of the wickets between them to leave the Terriers well short of a competitive total, but three early strikes made life a uncomfortable in the run chase before Hunter (35) settled nerves. It took just short of 32 overs for the home team to ease to their success.

Swalwell were bruisingly efficient in brushing aside Tynedale, run machine Chris Hewison smashing 11 fours and five sixes in his 105, and Lloyd Anderson was even more brutal as he included seven sixes and 12 other boundaries in a 67-ball innings of 111.

The opening pair effectively ended the shortened game as a contest, with Swalwell recording a mammoth 272-3 in just 30 overs. The asking rate then became just too much for the hosts, and despite and unbeaten half century from skipper Tom Cant they ended 118 runs short on 154-6.

There are two teams hot on the tails of the joint leaders, with Shotley Bridge and Lanchester also making it two wins in their opening games.

It was 25 overs a side at Percy Main, and when the hosts posted a modest 122-3 it didn’t take too long for Ryan Pringle (six fours and three sixes in 58) to lift the Bridge tempo and drive them to a seven-wicket victory.

Lanchester eased to a six-wicket win at Ponteland where the home team Aussie, James Whiteley, hit 60 from 78 balls as his side totalled 180-8 in 35 overs. New signings, Kiwi Teja Nidamanuru (3-17) and Sam Sanderson (4-16), were on song for the visitors with the ball, and then Graham Brinton (67 from 61 balls) and Greg Halliday (48no) ensured their work paid significant dividends.

Annfield Plain won by four wickets at Leadgate with Neil Killeen (2-9 and 64) on top form, and Ashington defeated Alnmouth by 110 runs courtesy of a second ton inside the first eight days of the season by Anirudh Singh.