Castle Eden emerged as the new leaders of the Durham Cricket League, a maximum points victory over Crook Town taking them from fourth to first.

The hosts made their intentions clear from the start as they raced to 225-5 inside 42 overs and then declared. Dean Langridge hit 17 fours and a six as he opened out with a 94-ball 92, and then South African Aat Lindeque really went to Town as he blasted ten fours and two sixes in racing to 60 in 46 balls.

Crook looked in charge of their own destiny as openers Andrew Pratt (40 in 28 balls) and Steve Chapman gave them the best of starts to the run chase, but when Keith Bailey trapped Pratt lbw the Town roof caved in for a second time in three matches as they crumbled to 128 all out, Chapman left stranded on 58 not out with the next top score being five. Match-winner Bailey ended with figures of 6-38.

Dawdon sneaked past Easington with one wicket to spare, victory keeping them in second spot one point behind the new leaders. David Coates thought he’d done all the hard work after his 12-over spell of 5-32 left Dawdon with a modest target of 128, but he then had to return to action in his second job as a number 11 bat, his one not out proving every bit as valuable as his earlier wickets.

For the other promotion contenders there were frustrating draws as Esh Winning were held by Bill Quay, Durham City suffered the same fate at Horden, and Mainsforth couldn’t find a way past Philadelphia, frustratingly none of the games seeing the full 95 overs quota bowled.

In Division Two, the top three all notched up maximum points victories with leaders Ryhope beating Littletown by seven wickets as South African Dylan Buckthorp (3-31 and 42 not out) continued to impress, Seaham Park overwhelming Murton by 99 runs as Mark Race (77 from 50 balls) and Alex Ludlow (5-22) starred, and Burnopfield easing past a feisty Langley Park by 40 runs with their former Durham players to the fore once more.

Swalwell gained their expected win at Bedlington to remain 13 points clear at the top of the NTSL, but the bottom club put up a fight before going down by five wickets. The Terriers were turned over for 122, but then grabbed a couple of prized early scalps to keep the table-toppers honest as they eased to the win inside 30 overs.

Second-placed Lanchester were in more expansive mood at Consett where Graham Brinton (95) inspired them to 273-8, and it was only runs down the order that kept the eventual losing margin to just 91 as the visitors attack shared the spoils of victory.

Ashington and Shotley Bridge kept pace with the two sides above them as they disposed of Percy Main and Annfield Plain respectively, Ben O’Brien the star of the Colliers show with six sixes in 110, and Bridge’s Paul Greenwell (95) being marginally happier than Plain’s Neil Killeen (97) as he had the satisfaction of being on the winning side despite just missing out on a century.