For the third successive Saturday, the weather wreaked havoc and very few games were completed.

Five of the six matches in The Readers Durham County League were abandoned when the second innings had just got underway, the exception at Shildon, who were unable to start their reply against leaders Evenwood.

Despite newcomers Michael Thorpe and Hiran Marambe both taking a couple of wickets, Evenwood's batsmen dominated and a total of 178-6 was achieved from 32 overs.

Following early setbacks, Evenwood recovered through Deighton Butler, whose unbeaten 54 included one six and five boundaries. John Maughan added 40 with one six and six fours but the only winner was the rain.

Sedgefield were 52 for one from 12.3 overs replying to the Kimblesworth total of 218-7 compiled from the full 45 overs.

Stefan Swanepoel was unbeaten on 34 and earlier, openers Michael Fishwick (37) and Stephen Meek, whose 81 included a couple of sixes and nine fours, laid the foundations for Kimblesworth's big total.

Gavin Swan hit a quick 51 with four sixes and as many boundaries while for Sedgefield, Swanepoel delivered the maximum 12 overs returning 3-66.

Tudhoe reduced Etherley to 165-6 as Chris Glasper, Tim Smalley and captain Kevin Littlefair shared the wickets. Yasas Tillakaratne (47) and Carl McGregor (33) were both in good form for Etherley. Tudhoe were 18 without loss when the abandonment came.

Crook made 23 for one in ten overs when their game at Willington also became a victim of the weather.

The home side batted the full 45 overs for 195-5, which included a half century by Jaco Mong with one six and five fours and 41 from Gary Cummings.

Mainsforth batted just six overs scoring 20 without loss in their home fixture with Langley Park. Skipper David Gladstone who went in at number ten, was unbeaten with a top-scoring 28 as Langley posted 143-9 from 45 overs. David Thompson, 4-36 in 12 overs, was the most productive Mainsforth bowler.

Rakesh Dhurv, four for 28, restricted Ushaw Moor to 123 but with Esh Winning 12-1, a halt had to be made.

There was very little play in the Foster's ECB North East Regional Premier League.

At Chester-le-Street, 35.1 overs were possible during which time the home side made their way to 153-6 against Tynemouth. Captain Allan Worthy struck three sixes and seven boundaries in 69.

South Northumberland were nine for the loss of captain John Graham's wicket against Sunderland at Gosforth and the remaining four games were completely washed out.

The fixture list in the Federation Special Durham Senior League was severely affected. Only three matches started, but none completed.

The longest game was at Hetton Lyons, where the home side rattled up the runs against Seaham Harbour.

Professional Gerry Strydom and Marc Hopkinson accelarated from the off and the South African was one short of his century when the declaration was made. Stephen Sennett's 15 overs brought him 3-50 and Seaham were left to chase 194 to win.

Gary Adey and Tommy Nixon struck early for the Lyons. However, after 11.5 overs the rain forced the players off and the game was abandoned with Seaham on 28 for three.

Leaders Burnmoor picked up six points against Marsden, but their game was brought to a premature conclusion. The Moors made early inroads, Chris Mann was the first to lose his wicket at 29 and by the time the score was on 44, Philip Bell and Lee Whalley had also been dismissed.

Marsden recovered when Andy Potts and Mark Scott came together. The latter was particularly severe and his hitting was hard and variable (eight fours and three sixes). The pair added an unbeaten 111 for the fourth wicket and Scott was 82 not out when the rain arrived.

South Hetton and South Shields could only manage 17 deliveries in their encounter. During this time, South Hetton picked up a wicket but a deluge brought an abandonment.

There was little play in the Durham Coast League.

In the bottom-of-the-table clash, Peterlee were 114-4 at Houghton with Michael Garrighan unbeaten on 45. All four wickets had fallen to Jon Grant for 63 runs.

Just 27.2 overs were possible at Castle Eden who totalled 76 for six against Dawdon for whom Mark Ewart took 3-22 from 13.2 overs, six of them maidens, while at Seaham Park, Silksworth reached 27 for one before the rain returned. No play was possible in the other three fixtures.

Leaders Tynedale looked in trouble at 39-6 at home to second-bottom Swalwell in the Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League Division A1. Five wickets were taken by Stephen Humble for a miserly nine runs.

Shotley Bridge totalled 76-1 against Sacriston at The Spa. Former Durham County opener David Jackson contributed 27 and Philip Taylor was unbeaten on 31.

Whickham, who look doomed to relegation, had lost two wickets for 28 at Lanchester.

No play was possible in the other three games and the complete programme in Division A2 was wiped out