The Readers' Durham County League: Evenwood had to defeat nearest rivals Willington to stand any chance of winning the title and they came up trumps - but only by a margin of 11 runs.

They are 21 points ahead of Willington, who will make up their game in hand today at Brandon, where victory would take them to within a point of the leaders.

Although five players passed 20, the top score in the Evenwood total of 171-9 was just 31 by Michael Pedelty.

Gary Cummins and Stephen Hirst both claimed three wickets for Willington, who recovered from a poor start to their innings.

Gareth Wyatt (33) and Brown with 35 led a partial recovery, but when they both fell to John Maughan, the outcome was wide open. Maughan and Deighton Butler proved to be the match-winners as they shared eight wickets and following an exciting conclusion, it was Evenwood who won to stay in the race.

Shahid Anwar and Simon Davies were again on-song in Tudhoe's ten wickets demolition of Esh Winning. Anwar struck three sixes and 13 fours in 109 not out and Davies struck 67 with a couple of sixes and ten boundaries.

The pair added 186 for the unbroken first wicket in just 22 overs.

Graham Hurst (42), Karl Turner with 43 and Lee Wileman (35) were in form for Esh, who were all out for 185 as Colin Glasper took four wickes for 61 runs.

Sanjay Raul took man-of-the-match honours in Ushaw Moor's seven-wicket win against Brandon.

He bowled the maximum 12 overs, claiming three wickets for 22 runs and Scott Nattrass had 3-29 in 11 overs as Brandon laboured through 45 overs making just 95-9.

In contrast, Ushaw Moor batted just 19 overs as Raul hit a six and ten boundaries out of 64.

David Wilkinson (77 no), Alan Gray with 47 and Coates (30) enabled Langley Park to pass 200 for the loss of six wickets at Crook Town, who made only 148 in reply.

Lee Morton top scored with 31, but the six-man Langley attack dominated, none more so than Simon Huscroft, whose three wickets cost him just 34 runs.

Shildon again made a respectable total, but just cannot secure a first win. Their 141 from 32.1 overs included 35 by Michael Parker and 34 not out from Stuart Henderson, who both batted well despite Brian Clancy and Stephen Meek both claiming three wickets in the Kimblesworth attack.

The visitors batted almost as long as Shildon had done but paced their reply, winning with six wickets remaining. Howard (45) and Riley (36 not out) contributed most of the runs.

Gary Purcell's opening innings of 35 was the backbone for Mainsforth's match-winning 137-5 at home to Sedgefield. Batting first, the visitors were all out for 136 as David Thompson took four wickets. Michael Payne with 34 and Paul Richardson (39) added the most runs in a four-wicket stand.