The Readers' Durham League: Tudhoe extended their lead at the top with victory at Brandon, where runs were always at a premium.

Despite scoring only 106 they had 36 runs in hand as Brandon struggled to just 70 all out.

Conditions suited bowlers and Shahid Anwar and Tim Smalley came to the rescue of the leaders.

Anwar quickly made inroads into the Brandon innings to finish with four wickets for just 21 runs in ten overs while Smalley soon made an impression when he was introduced, ending with 3-19 from his eight overs. Jamie Robinson again impressed in the Brandon attack, capturing five wickets for a mere 21 runs in nine overs. Dean Storey weighed in with 3-20 and Tudhoe had to work hard for their modest score, which included 43 by Simon Davies.

Evenwood returned to second position. They sent Mainsforth back to the pavilion with just 74 runs on the board as John Maughan, Deighton Butler and Watson all each claimed three wickets.

When they made first use of the wicket, the Evenwood batsmen found it more to their liking and a useful 174-8 was posted. Billy Teasdale opened with 37 before Darren Wallis struck 40. Robert Chismon, David Fishburn and Gary Purcell were all among the wickets for Mainsforth, but none managed to dominate the innings.

Willington's good run of form ended at the hands of Kimblesworth, who maintained their winning sequence of results.

Gary Cummins just missed out on his century as he struck 99, including two sixes and ten fours. Will Hutchinson added 50 and Willington ended with 177-4 from a reduced 35 overs.

Kimblesworth went for victory from the start and edged home with just two wickets remaining. Stephen Meek opened with 52 and Michael Fishwick added 32, earning the visitors a crucial win.

The lingering championship hopes of Esh Winning ended at Langley Park, where they crashed to a ten-wicket defeat. Grant Falk set up Langley's superb victory when he claimed six wickets for only 24 runs in 6.4 overs and Esh were back in the pavilion for only 102.

Lee Wright then took over with the bat crashing six sixes and seven boundaries in an unbeaten 70. He partnered Alan Gray (25 not out) in an unbroken opening partnership which produced 104 runs.

Etherley had 60 runs in hand of Sedgefield. Lee Gowland (35) and Yassas Tillakaratne, with nine fours in 54, led Etherley to 182-8 despite Steve Brodrick taking four wickets for just 26 runs in 12 overs.

Elwell opened Sedgefield's reply with 32, but eventually the innings stumbled to 122 all out in 36 overs as Tillakaratne became man-of-the-match. His 12 overs earned him five wickets for just 28 runs.

Crook Town won the bottom-of-the-table battle with Shildon by 40 runs. Paul Walker (48), Richard Manuel (34) and Neil Davies with 32 not out enabled Crook to end on 181-5.

Although Nicholson batted throughout the Shildon reply making an unbeaten 48 and Bainbridge added 47, the innings only produced 144-9 with Davies taking four wickets for a mere 16 runs.