The Readers Durham County League

Evenwood opened up a clear lead on top of the table but it was a close call before they saw off bogey team Etherley by 12 runs.

At the halfway stage it looked as if Evenwood's 200-plus total would be sufficient until Carl McGregor and Yasas Tillakeratne went to work and almost pulled the game out of the fire for Etherley.

Two early wickets fell before Tillakeratne went to the crease. After first retrieving the situation, he set about the Evenwood attack and stroked nine boundaries in 61 while McGregor was even more devastating with a six and 10 fours in 65.

Deighton Butler bowled a good end for the champions, conceding only 37 runs in 12 overs for four wickets and his contribution in the attack was crucial.

So too did Eddie Seery for Etherley. He sent down 12 overs returning 3-41 and Chris Renshaw had 3-72 from as many overs as Evenwood posted 201 all out from 42.4 overs. Neil Teasdale stroked a six and nine fours making 59 and James Alderson added a valuable 36.

Kimblesworth, much fancied before the start of the season, suffered a seven-wicket defeat against Crook Town who have not made the most favourable of beginnings.

Mark Davies and Andy Burgess shared seven wickets restricting the home side to only 123 which included 44 by Stephen Meek and 30 by Lloyd Cochrane.

Crook's reply was swift and decisive, the winning runs coming from 33 overs. Their matchwinner with the bat was Phil Walker who had a six and 10 boundaries in an unbeaten 60.

Life does not get any easier for Shildon who were sent back for 59 by championship hopefuls Esh Winning who raced past 300 when they batted first.

Lee Douthwaite, with five fours in 39 scored more than half the Shildon total as Mark Davison took 4-34 from 10 overs and Eddie Watson 4-9 from the 5.1 overs he sent down.

Two players made centuries for Esh. Ian Dixon had nine sixes and 11 boundaries contributing 135 not out and Ata-ur-Rehman was just behind him in the scoring stakes twice lifting the ball over the line and finding the boundary on 18 other occasions out of an undefeated 124.

Mainsforth returned to winning form at Willington where they had three wickets to spare chasing a target of 176. Robert Chismon led the way with 77 and towards the end Wayne Firbank's 22 not out was useful.

Gary Cummings (73) and Karl Brown (40) produced the perfect platform for Willington but when the partnership was broken, wickets fell particularly to Firbank (5-50) and Gary Purcell whose three victims cost him only 22 runs.

Ten Ushaw Moor batsmen managed only 18 runs between them and the last five failed to get off the mark when the innings crashed to 79 all out against Sedgefield.

Sanjay Raul made 51 of the total and there were ten extras as Martin Lower ripped through the batting, taking six wickets for four runs in 6.4 overs. John Clark gave support, returning 3-24 from his eight-overs stint.

When Sedgefield batted first they were indebted to Neil Payne who was just a single short of a half century when he was run out. Brendan Jackson had a good day with the ball for Ushaw Moor, claiming five wickets for 37 runs in 12 overs but even so, Sedgefield's 145 all out was more than sufficient.

Langley Park had only eight runs in hand of Brandon. Martin Tinkler (36) and Michael Thorpe (56) raised the hopes of the visitors but the introduction of David Wilkinson and Philip Daughtry into the Langley attack changed the course of the game.

Tyrone Beaton was in super form for Langley and he batted the entire innings ending 103 not out in a total of 187-7.