This is the North East | Sport | Cricket

Whitburn were made to work hard for their 73-runs win at Marsden. A promising beginning enabled Whitburn to build quickly when Paul Shields (40) and Ashley Thorpe (45) cut loose with a partnerhsip of 76 in 45 minutes.

Thereafter though the Whitburn batting again struggled to build successfully. Philip Bell (4-30) was their main obstacle and Marsden were left to chase a reasonable target of 185 for victory.

They were second best when the Whitburn attack struck regularly and, at 59 for five, it seemed a formality for a Whitburn win.

Simon Curtis (48), however, found admirable support from Andrew Doherty until both perished almost simultaneously.

Whitburn then sensed the opportunity to force home their advantage.

After being 108-5 Marsden lost their final five wickets for just three runs in 21 balls, and Whitburn collected a necessary 20 points to keep them in the title race.

After three wins and a draw South Hetton were brought down to earth when South Shields crushed them by eight wickets.

It was pace bowler Johnny Wightman who caused the early disarray when he picked up the first three wickets. With Alan Stevenson (3-14) claiming the next two, Paul Muchall did the same, before Wightman returned to end the innings.

Wightman's figures of 5-37 came from 11.1 overs, and South Hetton were dismissed for just 90 runs. Muchall then clipped ten boundaries in an unbeaten half-century. Skipper Michael Fishwick assisted the youngster as Shields needed just 16.4 overs to complete the rout.

Hetton Lyons encountered initial problems at Boldon until Graham Hoban was joined by Graham Martin. With patience, the pair took the side out of immediate danger adding 58 for the fifth wicket after the Lyons had lost four cheap wickets.

In the end Hoban (63 not out) saw his side to a more impressive 225 when late support from Lee Cowan provided the acceleration.

Boldon never moved into a challenging position. When the final hour arrived they were 94 for two wickets. Despite half centuries from Grant Forster, Richard Potter and Orlanzo Jackson they were still well away from their target at the end.

Durham City registered their second win in succession when they bowled out Horden after making just 156 themselves.

Tom Meredith and Ben Hanson both hit scores in the 40s but the Horden attack gave little away.

Andrew Robson claimed four wickets in his economical 15-over spell and there were three wickets each for Carl Watson (3-43) and Keith Cheetham (3-52).

The Durham attack was equally effective.

Although Nadeem Khan stood firm with an unbeaten 45, he received little support. Nick Howe's 11 overs saw him claim 5-33 and City were winners by 35 runs.

With just four Seaham players moving into double figures and David Leslie top scoring with 37 the Harbour could only manage 120 against Eppleton - where there were three wickets apiece for Matthew Jane, Elliott Hughes and Stuart Lacey. Although Jimmy Daley departed early, Sean Ezzard (47 not out) and David Lowther (60 not out) quickly made the task a simple one and Eppleton raced to a nine wicket win.

Burnmoor had five wickets to spare when they overtook Felling's 163. Skipper Graham Wright (40) top scored but after Ian Conn (4-49) had bowled out the middle order Chris Ellison collected 3-20 at the end of the innings.

After an opening stand of 49 Burnmoor then laboured slightly. Ellison (45) and Neil Young (40) took the Moors to within sight of victory and Mark Douglas (5-44) returned his best bowling figures of the summer.

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