In the NEPL, Hetton Lyons had a draw at home to Newcastle, who racked up 254-6, with Sean Tindale hitting a great century (108no) off 136 balls, with Jacques Do Toit chipping in with 37.

In reply the Lyons had to dig deep for the draw as they were in trouble at 93-6, but ended with 137-7 and opener Jonathan Malkin was 56 not out at the end, off 152 balls.

Chester-le-Street got back to winning ways, with a crushing 99-run victory over Eppleton. Chester batted first and made 197-7, with opener Kyle Davis hitting 68, with Craig Scurr and Joseph Coyne, each taking three wickets apiece.

Eppleton only made 98, despite Jandre Erasmus thumping 46 batting at nine, with Adam Hickey the pick of the bowling taking 4-39.

Stockton travelled to the Riverside, as Durham Academy won the toss and decided to bat first and made 194-8. Openers Ross Greenwell made the bulk of the runs with (74) and Edward Hurst (43), with George Harding taking an excellent 5-25.

In reply, Stockton were 26-2, but recovered well with Ryan Wallace (80) and skipper Kevin Ward (40), putting on 95 for the third wicket, to reach their total of 198-6.

Benwell Hill continue at the top with their third win out of three matches, this time with a seven wicket win at home to South Shields. The visitors took first knock and scored 197-6, with Salman Ahmed with 76 and Christopher Dorothy hit 40, with Anthony Hunter returning 5-56.

At 64-3, the result was in the balance, but a 136 run partnership between Sameet Brar (80no) and skipper Kyle Coetzer (69no), saw them home to seal the win.

In the Durham Cricket League, Horden drew with Esh Winning after only making 138-8, with opener Adam Dixon top scoring with 32 and Jonathan Hodgson taking 3-37. This was in reply to Esh Winnings total of 177 all out, when opener David Lawlor scored 53 and Stuart Hall 34, with Adam Dixon taking 4-23.

Durham City lost by just seven runs in a high scoring game at Tudhoe, with the home side amassing 232-8 thanks to Alex McGrath with 62, Andrew Carrick 33 and Daniel Thexton 89, with Nick Howe returning 5-62. Durham City totalled 225 all out, with opener Jacob McCann scoring a fine 105 and Drew Watson made 44. On the bowling front, Alex McGrath then took 4-45 and Michael Coulthard took 3-48

Castle Eden were losers at newly-promoted Whiteleas, when they could only score 143 all out, with Chris Nichol taking 3-41 and Lee Irwin top scoring with 32. Rammy Nawaz smashed 60 and Dev Sudhir scored 51 not out, to see their side home by four wickets.

Seaham Harbour beat Easington by six wickets and Dawdon beat Philadelphia by two wickets in a close match and Littletown won by just 8 runs, at Bill Quay.

In the Norhumberland and Tyneside Senior League, Leadgate lost at home to Swalwell by six wickets, when they could only muster 158-9, with Ross Sinclair taking 3-43. Opener Callan McCabe scored 57 and David Richardson was 33 not out.

Swalwell’s Chris Hewison then scored 34 and Lloyd Anderson 37, with Neil Corby not out at the end, with 45.

Shotley Bridge won by 111 runs at Ryton after they amassed 266 all out, with Donald Brown 71, Kieran Milburn 34, Stuart Graham 46 and Lewis hall 54, with Chris Robb taking 3-29 and Azeem Ghumman 3-61. Ryton made 155 all out in reply, with David Howorth making 43 and Sunit Akhtar top scored with 55. In the bowling honours, Mick Allen took 5-26 in his opening spell.

Consett beat Percy Main by 108 runs, with the home side making 214, with Gary Hunter 50 and Kamran Mansoor top scoring with 66, with Barry Stewart taking 3-30. Percy Main’s total was just 106 all out, with 35 coming from David Anderson and Sameer Haque took a brilliant 5-14.

Ashington, unbeaten last season, went down at home to Tynedale by 31 runs and Lintz won at Ponteland, with Lanchester winning by ten wickets at Newcastle City.