Brandon's l00 per cent record ended on Saturday and so too did Jim Allenby's phenomenal run feast.

It was surely no coincidence that when he made just 25 Brandon were all out for only 127 of which Dean Storey, who has also been in outstanding form, contributed a half-century.

Evenwood made a slow start, losing their first three matches but they have come good especially since the late introduction of West Indian Damodar Dawsrath into their ranks.

He claimed four wickets for a meagre 17 runs and man-of-the-match Billy Teasdale took three for 25 before leading Evenwood to an eight-wicket win.

Teasdale (52) soon found a partner in number three John Maughan, who ended unbeaten on 57 as Evenwood stretched their unbeaten record to three matches.

Esh Winning closed in on Brandon with a big win at Tudhoe who were sent back with only 91 runs on the board by the combined efforts of Eddie Watson and Ahmed, who shared six wickets.

Runs were a lot more plentiful when Esh made first use of the wicket and posted the formidable total of 213-8.

Rizwan Qureshi and David Watson both passed 30 and there were other useful contributions down the order despite Chris Glasper and Michael Coulthard both taking three wickets.

Etherley's new professional Craig Emmanuel was prominent in his side's first win of the season at home to Shildon. He opened the innings and ended undefeated on 68 hitting no fewer than one six and 11 boundaries.

Stephen Crane added 33 to the total of 138 for the loss of three wickets after Shildon had been bowled out.

Australian Charlie Burke top-scored with 47 for Shildon whose batsmen found the bowling of Carl Renshaw (3-25) and Colin Barker (4-38) problematic.

Gary Cummings was in outstanding form with bat and ball for Willington against Hylton.

Although the Wearsiders topped 200, he conceded just 30 runs taking six wickets, but he was far from finished and then led his side to victory with a magnificent unbeaten 97. Aussie Chris Slattery gave support with 35 not out.

Gary Braithwaite (61), Gary Hewitt (51) and David Walton with 40 showed form in the Hylton innings but the match belonged to Cummings.

Stephen Ball was another batsman to hit form in Crook Town's defeat of Ushaw Moor. He struck one six and eight fours in 102 not out and 48 by Richard Manuel propelled the home side to 218-4.

Travis Dowlin (44) and Michael Hayton with 69 not out spearheaded Ushaw's reply but when Ball and Lee Formosa bowled economically and Andy Coe took three wickets, the innings ended on 179-8.