The Readers Durham County League: Langley Park were within five runs of causing an upset when they were involved in a high-scoring game with champions Evenwood.

The visitors' total of 220-7 appeared defendable but Langley took up the challenge and it was a close call for the visitors before the innings closed on 216.

Billy Teasdale (38) and John Maughan (43) were prominent in the early stages of the Evenwood innings and later Wallace (54) and Chris Peareth (40) took the total past the 200 mark.

Lee Wright led Langley's reply and when he was in partnership for the third wicket with David Wilkinson (50), victory looked attainable. Later wickets though went cheaply and with Wright's dismissal for 85, Langley's hopes receded. John Maughan was the most successful bowler in the Evenwood attack claiming three wickets for 41 runs.

Despite restricting Willington to 145-5 in 40 overs, Tudhoe went down by 36 runs. Karl Brown struck a couple of sixes and three fours in a top-scoring 62 and in the home attack none did better than Simon Davies whose three wickets cost just 22 runs in six overs.

Tudhoe's reply never threatened although Davies raised hopes when he took 47 from just 51 deliveries, hitting four sixes and two boundaries.

Willington's debutant South African professional Jaco Mong followed up his innings of 20 returning 3-28 from 8.3 overs and Paul Chivers had 4-40 from the ten overs he delivered.

Esh Winning's Rakesh Dhurv was in form with bat and ball in his side's victory at Mainsforth.

Bowling the maximum 12 overs, he conceded just 27 runs for three wickets as the home side were pegged to 103-9 in 45 overs. Robert Chismon top-scored with 31 which included five boundaries.

Esh did not hurry n their reply and victory was only secured after 38 overs. The early dismissal of three batsmen made them cautious but Karl Turner (32 not out) and Dhurv (52 not out) retrieved the situation before leading their side to a seven-wickets win.

Sedgefield had 30 runs in hand of Etherley. Michael Ridley's 49 was crucial to the home team's total of 157-8 as Yasas Tillakaratne picked up three wickets for 33 runs.

Replying, Etherley only threatened when Tillakaratne was at the wicket but unfortunately for them he was run out after scoring 23 and the innings ended with 127-9 on top. Stephen Flockett and Stephen Brodrick both took three wickets in the Sedgefield attack.

The games between Ushaw Moor and Brandon and Shildon against Crook Town were both washed out.