There was no midsummer solace for Benwell Hill and Blaydon as they both crashed to their lowest scores in NEPL Premier Division cricket to complete the most remarkable sequence of results in the league’s 15-year history.

Just 24 hours earlier three teams had been bowled out in the 40s in the T20 group games, one of them Blaydon, but they couldn’t even make it to that modest amount in their game against Durham Academy, crashing to 38 all out in 48 minutes - well below their previous worst of 54 back in 2002.

They lost by 144 runs as the Academy had made 182-8, with Scott Steel scoring 79 from 72 balls. George Harding (5-11) and Dylan Budge (5-22) then inflicted the damage as the Blaydon innings lasted just 13.4 overs.

But that still wasn’t the worst score. That dubious honour fell to Benwell Hill who were routed for 29 by neighbours South North.

The derby mauling reignited the Bulls title hopes while Chester-le-Street were being held to a rain affected draw at Jesmond where Newcastle more than held their own against the leaders.

After a lengthy injury lay-off South North’s Stephen Humble proved his fitness. In a match reduced to 87 overs Humble (56 from 70 balls) joined with ex-Test star Marcus North (92 from 95 balls) in lifting the Bulls to 237-7 in 43 of those, and then he and Tom Hodnett decimated the Hill batting, reducing the visitors to 7-6, and then taking the final four wickets for a single run as Hill comfortably set a new low mark, which had previously stood at 56. Humble ended with 5-9 and Hodnett 5-16.

Chester’s game at Jesmond was down to 86 overs with the home team totalling 228-8 in the first 47 of those, two differing half centuries from Jacques du Toit (52 from 31 balls) and James Carding (59 from 84 balls) the feature of the innings.

The Cestrians never really got into their stride as OIllie McGee took six wickets, saved from a first defeat by Quentin Hughes’ unbeaten 88. Instead, on 186-8, they had to settle for 14 draw points with their lead over South North cut to a similar figure.

Gateshead Fell completed the great escape act in 2014 and they are going to need to repeat it, a 111-run beating by the team just above them in the table, Hetton Lyons, leaving them 49 points from safety.

In the First Division the leadership changed hands for the first time as Brandon were heavily beaten at Eppleton and Washington overcame Burnmoor.

After going eight games without defeat to open up a healthy lead, Brandon suffered a second successive emphatic defeat. A 69-over game saw Brandon pinned to 158-7 in their 37, and then Kyle Davis masterminded a perfectly-timed run chase, his 16 fours and one six in an unbeaten 96 taking Eppleton to a nine-wicket win with six balls remaining.

There was 73 overs at Washington, but more than enough as the home team bowled Burnmoor out for 113 as Melvyn Betts (3-34) and Martin Hubber (4-33) reduced the visitors to 49-7 before young Riley Blunt (42) gave the eventual total some respectability at 113.

Aussie Trent Mais (54) and Chris Rushworth (33), making a rare appearance, ensured Washington won by five wickets to become the new leaders.