SORRY Sunderland will face life in the second tier of NEPL cricket for the first time after a shock relegation followed an escape by Gateshead Fell.

The Fell started thei day where they have spent all season – bottom with 18 fewer points than the Wearsiders.

Victory over Chester-le- Street, third with just two defeats, lifted them four points above Sunderland who will now exchange places with South Shields.

Gateshead’s escape followed back to back victories in their final two matches after 13 defeats.

Before beating Stockton, they trailed Sunderland by 39 points.

Chester-le-Street were outplayed with both bat and ball to secure a win by 118 runs. At the same time, Sunderland lost for the ninth time in 16 to drop bottom for the first time.

Fell’s victory was set up by a bold innings of 70 for Tom Pinkney. Despite frequently losing partners, he stuck to it and cracked 13 boundaries in 96 balls before James Sneller took over on 131-6, to hit 46 with 40 in boundaries.

They earned declaration points on 210-9 after 58.

Cameron Oliver (5-32) had the Cestrians on 40-5 before they were out for 92. Sam Roseby (4-8 in the final 2.3 overs) won it.

Sunderland were up against it at Tynemouth who racked up 268-7 in 57 overs. After slipping to 164-8 a late rearguard action, which lifted them to within 29 runs, faltered.