It was a memorable day for several players, but pride of place had to go to Ashington’s Anirudh Singh who made it three centuries in three consecutive matches to complete a sensational opening to the 2015 season.

Even more pleasing for the Colliers’ run machine was the fact that the latest ton set up a convincing 117-run victory over Annfield Plain. Singh hit nine fours and two sixes in making 104, his runs coming from just 114 balls, and despite three wickets from Neil Killeen the home team posted a solid 207-8 from their 50 overs.

Plain were never in with a realistic chance after losing early wickets, and with Paul Rutherford (4-30) Singh was able to add three cheap wickets to his runs to round off the complete performance. Annfield succumbed for 90 in 36.4 overs.

Percy Main’s Barry Stewart pushed Singh for the performance of the day accolade. It was a one-man show at Ponteland with Stewart bagging seven for 31 runs as the home team slumped to 102 all out in 21.1 overs, and then the Main man blasted eight fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 62 as the visitors romped to a nine-wicket win inside 20 overs.

With Swalwell and Consett defeated by the weather at Derwenthaugh Park, Lanchester grabbed their chance to go top with a 66-run home win over Alnmouth.

There were plenty of contributors to the Lanchester total of 271-5, Greg Patterson leading the way with 68 from 100 balls, Greg Halliday rattling up an unbeaten 54 at a run-a-ball, and Kiwi Teja Nidamanuru cracking nine fours and two sixes in a 38-ball 49. The New Zealander then shared six wickets with Halliday as Alnmouth were squeezed out of the run chase.

The other top-flight winners were Leadgate, Sam Stephenson (75 not out) and Luke McCabe (59 and 3-34) their key men as they defeated Bedlington by 54 runs, but for the other teams there was only frustration as their games were washed out, Swalwell well placed on 235-5 after a Chris Hewison century against Consett, and Tynedale reaching 176-2 after 41 overs, with Johnny Meadows also joining the day’s century club.