The Durham Cricket League season starts for Hylton today. Bouyed by the close-season acquisition of former West Indian international Marlon Black, along with Gary Frater, Adam Bewick and Ryan Dowens, they were disappointed when their opener at Philadelphia was washed away.

All four will feature at Mainsforth today where their hosts have been installed as likely championship contenders. The home team will have Mohammad Nawaz in the side after the influential Pakistani missed the low scoring drawn encounter at Crook through illness, but they have to reckon without the services of last week’s five-wicket man Martin Lower along with John Sweeney. Stuart Ord and Mark Snowdon are the replacements.

Having lost first-choice professional Zafar Gohar to international duties, Esh Winning are hoping to tie up the signing of Bangladeshi spinner Shurawadi Shuvo, with his arrival in around two weeks. David Watson is back for today’s meeting with unchanged Dawdon, and Chris Moore might also play.

Crook welcome back Lewis Formosa, Trevor Johnson and Peter Brown when they travel to Easington, Horden bring in Cameron Miller for their unavailable keeper Connor Dickinson, and Castle Eden have Ryan Ball returning, but Alan Unsworth missing, when they entertain a Philadelphia side with skipper Shaun Smith back at the helm.

Anirudh Singh will be aiming to make it three centuries in a row when Ashington take on Annfield Plain in the NTSL today.

The Pakistani pro has 242 runs in two outings to date, and the Colliers are again situated at the right end of the table. However, Neil Killeen inspired Plain to their first win last week and the contest between the two should be fascinating. Ashington have Callum Storey back from university to put them at optimum strength, while Annfield bring in Graham Carr and Gary Innes.

Kamran Mansoor makes his league debut for early leaders Consett when they travel to take on second-placed Swalwell who are just two points behind them. With Mark Dixon returning the leaders are determined to extend their winning streak, although unchanged Swalwell are coming off the back of a dominant display when they toppled champions Tynedale.

The champs recovered from that mauling by reversing the result in a midweek cup tie against the same opponents, but they now face another stern test when they go to Shotley Bridge. Both of these expected title contenders are able to name the same line-ups.