Readers Durham County League: EVENWOOD celebrated on Saturday night - even though they were without a game.

Nearest challengers Kimblesworth failed to cash in claiming only three points at Esh Winning and Evenwood are 26 points ahead on the same number of games.

Esh seem to reserve their best performances against the leading sides and Saturday was no exception when they inflicted a damaging three-figure defeat on Kimblesworth.

It was Indian Rakesh Dhurv who led the way with bat and ball. He struck four sixes and 12 boundaries before being caught just one run short of a century. John Carmedy (40) shared a productive second-wicket stand with Dhurv and the formidable total of 234-6 was achieved from just 45 overs.

Stephen Meek raised the hopes of Kimblesworth when he opened the innings, but following his departure for 40 the innings folded on 124 as Dhurv's spinners earned him six wickets for a meagre 27 runs in 12 overs.

Tudhoe still have their eye on ending runners-up and an 81-run win over Ushaw Moor maintained their challenge. Simon Davies crashed four sixes and 14 fours in 124 made from only 112 deliveries and, although Brendan Jackson returned 5-49 in his 12 overs, Tudhoe reached 221.

Ushaw Moor's reply never threatened after the early dismissal of Teneto Willett and ended on 140-9 as Tudhoe used nine bowlers in their attack.

Brandon's batsmen found the going difficult at home to Sedgefield making only 101 as Boardman and Stephen Brodrick both took three wickets. Bobby Orton conceded just 16 runs in 12 overs, six of them maidens, and took four wickets, but even though Jim Allenby claimed 3-33, Sedgefield won with three wickets intact.

Etherley had 117 runs in hand of Langley Park who stuttered to 96 all out as Chris Renshaw captured five wickets for only 25 runs in 10 overs.

Carl McGregor (33), Danny Hinge (30) and Yasas Tillakaratne, whose 47 included two sixes and seven fours, raised Etherley to 213-9. Five of the wickets fell to Simon Huscroft for 47 runs in 10 overs.

Crook Town comfortably defeated Mainsforth after reducing the visitors to 133 in 38.2 overs. David Fishburn top scored with 47.

Stephen Ball clinched figures of 4-38 in 10.2 overs while both Lee Holloway and Neil Davies claimed three wickets apiece.

Ball opened Crook's reply striking five boundaries in 31 before Andy Burgess, Philip Walker and Richard Manuel all passed 20 as Crook won with five wickets remaining. Four of them fell to John Cavanagh for 49 runs in 7.1 overs.

Despite scoring 255-7, Shildon still lost at Willington who had 17 runs to spare. Chris Pearce struck 111 but his performance was bettered by Willington's Gary Cummings with 141 out of 272-3.