Dukes ECB North-East

Regional Premier League THE underdogs had their day when Norton won for only the second time this season and Gateshead Fell held the leaders, South Northumberland.

Norton defeated fifthplaced Sunderland by the impressive margin of seven wickets to move out of the bottom three, with half centuries from Harry Linton and Ken Gresham securing the win after their four-man attack of Andy Fawcett (3- 29), Geoff Kean (3- 53), Ben Duncan (2-29) and the versatile Linton (2-37) had exploited the damp conditions to bowl out the Wearsiders for 148.

Only skipper Imran Shah (47 not out), batting at number eight, saved Sunderland from complete embarrassment. They lost their top five batsmen cheaply before Rameez Shahzad (32) stopped the collapse.

Gateshead Fell’s recent improving performances were capped by a battling allround effort against the powerful South North. The champions were held to 172-5 despite an excellent opening partnership between John Graham (43) and Adam Heather (39). The Fell’s top man, Geeth Alwis, put the brakes on them with four wickets at a cost of 44 runs.

The Sri Lankan (43) then produced some lovely stroke play to get the Fell to 123-7 with the leaders restricted to just 12 points in their second draw in three games.

Chester-le-Street, in second place, cut South North’s lead to just 13 points with their sixth win defeating South Shields by four wickets. It was always going to be a close contest and when Quentin Hughes (4-18 from 7.4 overs) and Andrew Bell (3-18 from 15 overs with eight maidens) stopped Shields scoring freely it was game on.

They bowled them out for 124 and then proceeded to shine with a third wicket partnership of 51 between Andy Smith (23) and Richard Waite (22), before Tony Birbeck added the top score of 30.

Stockton, who have yet to win a league match, lost for the seventh time to stay marooned at the foot of the table. They lost to Durham Academy, but the margin of just 35 runs showed a new fighting spirit emerging.

The Academy posted 193-9 with Mark Davies, who is on the comeback trail after injury, shining with the bat.

He top scored with 46 before being run out. Davies bowled steadily without taking a wicket and it was Mark Wood (6-25) who made sure the Teessiders got no more than 158. Jon Rickard (41) and Chris Parr (33) batted well enough for Stockton, with James Ward adding 27, but the Academy had the edge.

Blaydon and Tynemouth were the day’s other winners and it was an unbeaten 70 by former Durham all-rounder, Graeme Bridge, and 85 not out by current county starlet Scott Borthwick, which took the eye. Bridge inspired Blaydon to a 69-runs victory against Benwell Hill, while Borthwick’s excellent knock saw him at the crease when Tynemouth defeated Newcastle by six wickets.

Blaydon’s success took them above South Shields into third place.