Durham leagues round-up

Jun 16 2008 By Chris West, The Journal

IN the Warmseal Durham Senior League, Hetton Lyons did a demolition job on Philadelphia but lost the league leadership as Burnmoor gained 29 points against bottom club Durham City.

Surrappulige Malinga was the pride of the Lyons with a six-wicket burst that saw Phili out for 89, the win for Hetton coming by seven wickets. Another day, another century for Daley. Jimmy’s ton set up Burnmoor’s total of 201-3. Then Martin Thursfield (4-25) and Michael Callaghan (3-4) showed why the champions will take some deposing as City crumbled for 63.

Whitburn recorded a maximum to keep up their challenge, Lindsay Cullen top-scoring with 62 as the visitors piled on 231-6 at Seaham Harbour. Six bowlers took wickets as Harbour fell 99 runs short.

There was a storm brewing for Eppleton when they were dismissed for 162 at Horden, Scott Birks (5-49) and Stephen McCoy (3-10) proving their downfall, but a cloudburst ended the game, the ground awash when a mile away everything was dry.

Felling had Boldon clinging on at the end, Chris Pleasant’s five-wicket haul scuppering any ideas the visitors had of making 176 for victory, and South Hetton battled to another draw, this time frustrating Marsden.

With leaders Kimblesworth sitting Saturday’s programme out in the Readers Durham County League, there is a log-jam at the top with five teams separated by seven points.

The day’s biggest movers were Tudhoe, their win at Langley Park propelling them to joint top. Sachin Rana did the most damage to Park, his 4-21 helping see the hosts off for 104 before Simon Davies (55no) and Ross Hodgson (39no) powered the visitors to a 10-wicket win.

Shildon moved back to third with an eight-wicket win over Etherley, Hemanth Boteju (4-12) and Chris Peareth (58no) their stars, but there were upsets for Esh Winning, two wicket losers to Evenwood, and Crook, who lost by five runs at Willington.

Willington’s Kiwi, Sam Wells, is turning on the style, and his 71, with Gary Cummings’ 58, laid the foundation for their team’s 206-7. John Lee (60) did his best to spark Crook’s response but Wells and Cummings took three wickets apiece to secure the visitors’ win.

For champions Esh Winning it was their third defeat of the season as they went down by two wickets at Evenwood.

Esh’s score of 176-9 seemed decent enough but Zimbabwean Ed Rainsford demonstrated his class as he shepherded his new team-mates to a two-wicket win with an undefeated 66.

On a day when there were three draws from the five matches in the 3D Durham Coast League, the shock came at Easington where the home side, bottom at the start of the day, defeated championship-chasing Castle Eden by three wickets.

Michael Armstrong (4-37) and skipper Gary Ward (3-39) were the ones principally responsible for lowering Castle’s drawbridge for 150.

Jason Moses then led his team to the promised land with 72.

Karl Bellerby (4-35 and 45no) was in blistering all-round form again for Boldon CA as they overcame Bill Quay’s spirited challenge by three wickets, Mark Cuskeran (40no) and (3-41) being a particularly unlucky loser.

Ryhope clung on to their leadership as they picked up the lion’s share of points from a draw at Dawdon.

Arjun Purewal (75) and Lee Gilbert (45) inspired their side to a score of 202-8, but Ryan Consitt (52) and Umar Akhtar (57) held the leaders at bay long enough to ensure their team a share of the spoils.

Seaham Park had Murton clinging on as Ian Hauxwell (55no) led the hosts to a score of 179-7, before Michael Evans (5-41) had the champions tottering on the brink of defeat with 111-9.

Peterlee were six down with just 73 on the board when the rains came to save them in their forlorn chase after Washington’s total of 184 which owed most to Mark Lee’s unbeaten 92.