THERE was delight for Durham City as they became the third leader of the Durham Cricket League’s First Division in the last fortnight, a handsome 89-run win over Hylton propelling them to the summit following defeats for the previous top two.

City were never entirely comfortable during their 49.3 overs of batting, Callum Steel (48 from 35 balls) and Andrew Howson (42 from 38 balls) injecting some much needed urgency after a lethargic start and lifting the home team to 180-9. That proved to be 89 runs too many for Hylton who crumbled to 91 all out as Andrew Hutchinson (4-24) and England women’s international, Danielle Hazell (4-17), shared the bowling honours.

Castle Eden’s time in the sunlight of the summit was all too brief. A heavy defeat at Mainsforth, in a game which lasted a total of just 42 overs, left them pointless and saw them slip from top to fourth.

The Castle were toppled for 55 as the home team’s terrific trio of Jonny Barnes (2-12 in 12 overs), Martin Lower (5-24) and Gary Cummings (3-16) brought them to their knees. The home team then wrapped up a crucial nine wicket win in just 13.2 overs.

Dawdon, second at the start of play, looked like pulling their game at Horden out of the fire, only to be thwarted at the very last. John Leslie’s spell of 5-52 gave Dawdon a foothold in the game as the home team were bowled out for 181, but Carl Watson (4-56) and Scott Birks (3-35) took the hosts to the brink of victory as the visitors slid to 140-9. Mark Hewitt (22 not out) and David Coates (27) then put together a last wicket stand that took Dawdon to within four runs of their target, only for Shaun Bradbury to end their resistance after being asked to bowl as a last throw of the dice.

With Esh Winning losing a large chunk of their game at Crook to the weather the top of the table is now a crowded place to be, with just a single point separating the top three, and 19 covering the top six.

In Division Two Seaham Park won the match-of-the-day, defeating hosts Burnopfield in comprehensive fashion. Alex Ludlow and Thomas Ferguson shared six wickets as the previously unbeaten home team limped to 150-9 in 46 overs, a total that was made mincemeat of by Siddharth Chitnis as he blasted 6 fours and 3 sixes in an unbeaten 81. Park won inside 30 overs to become the new leaders.