South Shields moved to within eight points of NEPL leaders South North as they successfully chased down a challenging target on Teesside to become one of just three winners on a fog-bound day.

Stockton lost their big players, Allan Worthy and Keaton Jennings, early in the proceedings, but skipper Kevin Ward began the rebuilding work with a half century, and then Chris Hooker (75 not out) and Jimmy Ward (61 not out) ensured the comeback was complete with an unbroken century partnership which took the home side up to 257-4 in 60 overs.

The Shieldsmen were slow out of the blocks, but after the loss of three early wickets Gordon Muchall took control, aided and abetted by his captain Chris Rainbow (8 fours in 62). The Durham man hit seven fours and three sixes as his unbeaten 119 took the visitors to a four-wicket success with just six balls remaining.

Leaders South North (230-8) were robbed by fading light of five overs play against Newcastle, but they were by no means certain of clinching victory as the Tynesiders’ skipper, Jacques du Toit, stood on 102 not out when the lights went out, his side requiring 30 more for victory with two wickets intact.

The expected win by Chester-le-Streeet over bottom club Gateshead Fell lifted them into the top half of the table, while the other winners on the day, Tynemouth, had 20 runs to spare against the Academy. A century in 101 balls for Hetton Lyons’ Faiz Fazal went unrewarded as the gloom lopped nine overs from the match at Whitburn, while Eppleton lost more than 30 overs in their drawn game with Benwell Hill.

The First Division fairytale continues for Mainsforth, but their third win in three outings wasn’t sufficient to keep them top as Sacriston turned blasted Seaham Harbour by 154 runs and pick up a maximum points haul.

Richard Hawthorne and Shoaib Laghari shared eight wickets as Blaydon were bundled out for 90 to set up a routine run chase for Mainsforth, while Chris Rushworth’s debut for Sacriston went well as the Durham man blasted an unbeaten 84 from 61 balls and then drained the Harbour’s resistance with a burst of 5-19.

In the Durham Cricket League Burnopfield remained emphatic leaders with a 162-run demolition job on Crook Town, but Easington are hot on their heels after they humbled Hylton by 142 runs.

Town were trounced by ex-Durham men Gareth Breese, as his 118 from 105 balls set up 44-over romp of 259-4, and Neil Killeen, who proved largely unplayable in a 12-over spell which spawned figures of six for 15 as Crook crumbled for 97.

Easington skipper Dane Wilson top scored with an unbeaten 68 as the visitors posted of 199-8 at Hylton, and then namesake Jordan turned in the bowling performance of the day as his seven wickets routed the home team for a paltry 57.

The Seaham derby was a one-horse race, Dawdon dumping neighbours Park out for 67, Anthony Watson bagging five for seven runs, while another bowler to prosper was Horden’s Adam Dixon who took 6-8 as Bill Quay were beaten by eight wickets.

Lanchester took the day’s honours in the NTSL as they toppled title favourites Swalwell. 18 wickets fell while just 141 runs were being scored, but Lanchester held their nerve to keep two of their own intact. Another Anirudh Singh century kept Ashington on top of the heap, while champions Shotley Bridge had 335 runs to spare as they battered Benwell & Walbottle.