Dukes ECB NEPL, Readers Durham Cricket League and Go North East NTSL

ON a day of firsts in the NEPL Premier Division Tynemouth managed to cling onto the leadership despite being unable to force a victory down on Teesside as Stockton dug in for a draw.

But while that stalemate was being played out the main headlines were being made at South Shields, where the reigning champions South North were being humbled for the first time in two years, and Gateshead Fell, where the perennial strugglers managed to eke out a crucial first win of a difficult campaign.

Table-topping Tynemouth might be regretting batting on for almost 63 overs before declaring on 229-9 as a weakened Stockton, missing their Durham players, were able to survive by the skin of their teeth as they closed on 125-9. After slumping to 74-6 inside 32 overs, only three further wickets were lost in the remaining 21 overs.

The last time South North lost a league game was in April 2014, but South Shields ended that record with an emphatic eight wicket win at Dean Road after bowling the Bulls over for 173. Tim David was once again their star turn, the Aussie following up a bowling spell of 3-10 with an unbeaten 89, including 54 in boundaries.

Newcastle are now the only unbeaten side, their three wicket success at Hetton Lyons lifting them into second spot in the table, just three points adrift of Tynemouth. Ollie McGee (3-49 in 19 overs) and Jacques du Toit (4-29 in 16) were the key men in the Tynesiders attack, and with just 154 to chase victory was secured in the 50th over.

At the opposite end of the table Gateshead Fell (136) overcame Whitburn (124) to win for the first time this summer, although they still remain bottom after the Durham Academy also secured their first success when they won at Benwell Hill. Despite their victory, Fell still managed to shoot themselves in the foot by being docked 2 points for a slow over rate – the bowling of 15 no balls didn’t help!

It was also a tough day for the front runners in the First Division, with only Sacriston in the top four managing to win. They defeated Washington by seven wickets after Mel Betts (5-18 from 15 overs) ensured there was only 139 to chase, and Martin Hubber cracked 13 boundaries in an unbeaten 64 as Sacriston went second.

Willington remained in pole position with a draw at Brandon, but just one point now seperates the top two sides. Down at the foot of the table Sunderland are now propping up the rest after being soundly beaten at Tudhoe, Ian Grainger (62 not out and 3-33) the man doing most to secure that crucial first win.

And the day of shocks extended to the Durham Cricket League where Burnopfield’s colours were lowered for the first time. They took the risk of declaring having made just 172-6 in 50 overs, and Horden didn’t wait for any second invitations as Adam Dixon (70) and Lal Kumar (52 not out) made the run chase look easy.

A superb all-round performance by Sujit Nayak enabled Easington to consolidate their second spot on the table, the Indian all-rounder making 70 and then taking six wickets as Castle Eden were beaten by just 18 runs.

Wins for all of the top five clubs – with all five picking up maximum points – meant it was ‘as you were’ at the top of the NTSL, the star of the day being Lanchester’s Dan Nicotra who followed up a five wicket haul with 96 runs as Consett were beaten by eight wickets.