THE sun shone and the runs flowed in the NTSL as frustrated batsmen filled their boots, with three centuries to admire among other impressive individual efforts.

Chris Hewison hit the day's highest, an unbeaten 131 that included nine fours and six sixes, his effort powering Swalwell to a 141-run victory over Annfield Plain, but Anoop Pai wasn't so lucky - he made 106 for Chopwell but couldn't prevent Sacriston winning by 80 runs after they posted an eye-watering 303-5, Ben Hall's five-wicket bag for the winners ensuring batsmen didn't have it all their own way.

Tynedale stayed clear at the top with a win over Burnopfield as John Meadows hit 122 - the same as the margin of victory.

With the Durham Coast League frontrunners slugging themselves to a standstill in their head-to-head, Dawdon made a significant move to cut the gap on the two teams above them.

An unbeaten century from Ryan Consitt, who hit 15 fours and two sixes in his ton, rushed Dawdon to a declaration on 241-7, and despite a superb backs to the wall effort from Luke Anderson, who was 83 not out in a total of 130, the power of Shoaib Akhtar and Amur Purewal proved too potent.

Seaham Park got much the better of the clash of the heavyweights. Their total of 178 looked vulnerable but Murton's ambition didn't extend beyond the draw.

Easington spoilt Stuart Pattison's day. The Seaham Harbour star hit an unbeaten century as the Harbour put on 181-5 in 47 overs, but then the home team were led to a six-wicket success in 42 overs with Ben Wicling making 76 of the winning runs.

On the opening day of the Durham Senior League double-header Castle Eden turned on the style to hammer Marsden and leapfrog former leaders Felling.

New professional Swaru Purkayastha was on top form, hitting 96 out of a total of 239-3 and then picking up 4-14 as the visitors were bowled out for 161.

Whitburn came good at last with a comfortable nine-wicket victory over Burnmoor who set a stiff enough target in making 209-6. But Stuart Walker gave the home side the start they wanted before Ross Carty and Lee Henderson finished the job in some style.

With a two-game programme also a feature in the Durham County League Esh Winning got their weekend off to the best of starts with a comprehensive 94-run home win over Crook Town.

There were two Brandon centurions in their total of 262-3 against Shildon.

In yesterday's second instalment of Durham County League matches, Evenwood took a fine win at Brandon after the home club set a target of 207-9, Chris Coatsworth leading the successful run chase with 68 as his team won by three wickets from the final ball of the game. Yasim Murtaza was Esh's inspiration as Ushaw Moor were beaten by 38 runs.

Tudhoe trounced Langley Park by nine wickets and Willington's 46 run victory over Mainsforth owed much to the run-scoring prowess of Aaron Proud (100no) and Neil Pratt 88).