A SENSATIONAL innings from Anirudh Singh kept Ashington’s title hopes alive, while ending any lingering ambitions Annfield Plain had of mounting a late challenge.

The nine-wicket hammering proved exceptionally hard on Micky Allen who struck a magnificent 132 not out for the home team, his innings containing 15 fours and a six from 140 balls as Plain soared to 252-3 after being put in to bat.

Singh made the Colliers decision look the right one as he struck an imperious 156 not out, his savaging of the home attack including 16 fours and nine sixes. He shared most of his 138-ball innings with Simon Prudhoe (50 not out), the pair putting on 164 to win the game with more than five overs to spare.

And a fine bowling performance from Shotley Bridge’s Stuart Graham did for Ryton and enabled the Bridge to record a rapid victory which kept their own title ambitions alive.

Graham sent down 12 unplayable overs, collecting remarkable figures of eight for 30 runs, including a spell of five wickets in seven balls in which he enjoyed a hat-trick. Only Dean Bailey, 37 from 58 balls, was able to resist for any length of time as Ryton collapsed to 72 all out.

The Bridge then had the eight-wicket win wrapped up in 17.2 overs, with Paul Greenwell hitting six fours in an unbeaten 29.

Both table-topping Tynedale, and defending champions Swalwell, recorded maximum points wins, although the leaders were run close by Consett.

Tynedale were pinned down to a 50-over total of 144-9 by their hosts, Rob Hassan and Gary Hunter sharing six cheap wickets, and then Robbie Winn, with six fours and three sixes in an unbeaten 69, looked likely to drive Consett to success only for Akash Fotedar to have the final say with a match winning 12 over spell of 6-30, the home team all out for 139 with nine overs still available.

Swalwell’s success was easier, by eight wickets with just short of 20 overs in hand. Five wickets from Guy Saxton undid Lanchester for 158, Reece Jones making 79 of those, and then Chris Hewison blasted ten fours and five sixes out of an unbeaten 94 from 83 balls.