ESH WINNING burst to the top of the Readers Durham Cricket League as they gathered their expected 30-point return from the match at Boldon CA at the same time as former leaders Dawdon were getting much the worse of a home draw with Mainsforth.

There can’t have been many better debuts than that enjoyed by Esh’s new overseas star, Suhrawadi Shuvo, who arrived the day before the game yet still managed a century and five wickets. The Bangladeshi international hit 19 fours and 2 sixes, skipper Dave Lawlor (63 not out) happy to play willing accomplice in a partnership of 190 of which Shuvo made 124.

The declaration came on 200-1 after 37 overs, and it was a similar number before CA eventually fell for 110 as Shuvo rounded off a perfect day with five for 23. Defeat left Boldon pointless, and having amassed just seven in all from their six games to date their fate appears already sealed.

Meanwhile Dawdon, leaders at the start of the day, just couldn’t get out of the traps when set a target of 233-8 by Mainsforth, the visitors having run scorers throughout their order with Gary Cummings adding the impetus with a breezy 69, the vast majority of which were boundaries. The loss of three early wickets blunted Dawdon’s ambitions in the run chase, and they dropped anchor to ensure they weren’t beaten as they ended on 125-6.

Elsewhere in the top flight wins for Durham City and Castle Eden lifted them into the top four, but the competition is now so intense that the top eight clubs are separated by just 28 points.

Crook are in that bunch after they finally pulled off their first win – although they must have been worried at the interval having bowled Philadelphia out for 194, an almost identical score to that which Dawdon posted the previous week in that remarkable tie. This time there were no late calamities as Steve Chapman (74 not out) and Andrew Pratt (75) secured an eight wicket success.

In Division Two Ryhope were inspired to their sixth win of the campaign by South African Dylan Buckthorpe who starred in a six wicket win over Marsden with four wickets and an unbeaten half century, but Seaham Park managed to make some ground up on the leaders as they gained a five wicket win at Evenwood as Dave Hanson (5-46) and John Sample (64 not out) headlined.

Burnopfield are starting to get the hang of their new surroundings and the points system, and they took a maximum haul from their home game against Houghton as Gareth Breese (37 and 5-25) oozed class. They are well placed in third spot, the leading trio now some 26 points ahead of the chasing pack.

Another day, another win for Swalwell as they continue to set a searing pace at the top of the Go North East NTSL.

There were one or two concerns at the interval of their home game against Annfield Plain after Neil Killeen had given their batters a tough time in his 12 over spell of 4-16. But with just 170 on the board the home trio of Guy Saxton, Stephen Smith and Nicky Phillips shared nine cheap wickets as the Plain collapsed to 58 all out.

Lanchester are hanging on to Swalwell’s coat tails, their fifth win of the summer keeping them just 13 points behind the leaders as they swamped bottom club Bedlington by 175 runs, while Shotley Bridge are upwardly mobile again after seeing off Alnmouth by seven wickets in a one-sided match.

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