Same again as top four win (From The Northern Echo)

Same again as top four win

8:00am Monday 1st August 2011 in Wellstream Northumberland & Tyneside Senior League

It's as you were at the top with all four leading teams winning, but Annfield Plain's race is over as another defeat left them trailing way behind the leading quartet.

Plain looked to have done enough at the halfway stage at Lanchester after amassing a more than challenging 249-7. Neil Killeen didn't bowl because of a calf injury, but he earned his corn by cracking 14 fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 109.

Undaunted, Lanchester gave chase, and with Graham Brinton (56) Nathan Hudson (36) and Masood Mirza (48no) all going well, a three-wicket victory was achieved with just six balls remaining.

Leaders Swalwell stayed on course for a fifth successive title after registering their 11th win in 15 by beating Burnopfield.

A half-century from Malcolm Clarke pushed them above 200 and although their visitors made a real fight of it, they were beaten by 29 runs.

Nicky Phillips (2-31) led a trio of successful wicket-takers with Ian Pattison (2-32) and Gary Johnson (2-49) as their visitors were left on 193-9 at the close.

An unbeaten 38 for Gary Innes, and 37 from second-top scorer Andy Allen, weren't quite enough to force a nervous finish for the leaders.

Second-placed Shotley Bridge continued on the title trail, but they had to keep their nerve as Tynedale ran them close.

The Bridge won by eight runs after posting 240-7, with Stuart Graham (51) and Phil Brown (43) doing the business with the bat before Brown (3-24) and Graham (3-27) combined again to bowl Tynedale out for 232.

Sacriston, now 16 points behind the leaders in third place, were happy with a three-wicket win over Newcastle City even though the bottom-of-the-league side showed plenty of fighting spirit.

Ryan Moralee (4-43) made sure City were restricted to 192 before Harry Hubber (67) and Mark Fort (41no) made the major contributions to Sacriston's success.

Percy Main are still in the mix after victory against Chopwell kept them in the top four.

Anirudh Singh (67) carried them safely to 220 before his three wickets, combined with the contribution of Guy Saxton (4-41), dismissed the visitors for 188.

Ashington continued to struggle when beaten by a margin of 85 runs at Morpeth. Ben Maxted (74) and Edwin Brown (52no) led the charge for the hosts, who finished on 268-8.

Paul Elliott (4-61) provided Ashington with more problems as they were dismissed for 183.