Billy Teasdale's five-wicket haul set leaders Evenwood on the road to victory, but it still needed a crucial contribution from young Chris Peareth to seal a fifth win of the season.

Teasdale, introduced as second change, quickly had Brandon on the back foot and in 6.5 overs, he claimed five wickets for only 14 runs. Deighton Butler, who took the wickets of the first three batsmen including that of Michael Thorpe for 35, ended with 3-35 from his 12-overs stint.

Peareth went in at number three and patiently carried his bat for 38 as Evenwood secured the points after batting 27 overs.

Tudhoe moved into second position, 19 points behind Evenwood but with a game in hand. They had a close call at Kimblesworth though in a game reduced to 25 overs per side.

Early on in their innings, Kimblesworth were in the driving seat as Stephen Meek (59) and Clancey with 30 put together a promising partnership for the second wicket.

At 127 for three needing just another 32 runs, victory looked assured, but seven wickets then fell for the addition of only 13 runs and the innings closed with 1.4 overs remaining.

Once again, Simon Davies spearheaded the Tudhoe innings scoring 62 from just 53 balls with four sixes and as many fours.

He was involved in a second-wicket stand of 74 with Darren Littlefair and later Colin Glasper smashed two sixes and two boundaries in 28 not out taken from only 12 deliveries.

Esh Winning slipped back in the title race when they lost by two wickets at Willington.

Gary Cummins (34), Darren Brown with 39 and Stephen Donnelly (45) provided the bulk of the runs for Willington who were greatly assisted by no fewer than 41 extras.

There were only two balls remaining when the winning run was struck.

Batting first, Esh realised 205-6 from their 45 overs. David Lawlor (38) and John Carmedy (41) gave the innings a good send off before Ata-ur-Rehman and Ian Dixon both added 31.

Sanjay Raul hit form with bat and ball steering Ushaw Moor to victory over Langley Park.

He opened the innings making 35 and 44 by Michael Hayton and 36 from Brendan Jackson took the total past 200.

Tyron Beaton opened with 40 but following his dismissal, Langley's innings ended on 113 as Raul picked up five wickets for just 28 runs.

He received excellent support in the attack from Hayton and Brendan Jackson, who shared the other five wickets.

Yasas Tillakaratne was another bowler among the wickets leading Etherley to victory at Shildon. Colin Barker's 33 was the best the home side could produce in a total of 99 as Tillakaratne returned 5-20 and Eddie Seery 3-21.

Mainsforth stay in the top four and they too have played a game fewer than Evenwood and Esh Winning. Their latest success - the fourth in five outings - came at Crook Town where Robert Chismon (40) and Gavin Peat with a half-century put their side into a strong position.

Although Paul Walker (30) and Andy Burgess (42) put Crook in with a chance and Lee Morton and Neil Davies added useful scores, Crook fell just short at 148-6, leaving Mainsforth winners by a ten run margin.