Champions Evenwood made it three wins out of three when they sent Langley Park back for just 70 runs as John Maughan and Billy Teasdale both claimed five cheap wickets.

Maughan (30 not out) became man-of-the-match when he quickly completed his side's victory.

Ushaw Moor professional Sanjay Raul was also in top all-round form in his team's success at Mainsforth. His four wickets haul troubled the home side, who made just 116 and Raul then carried his bat for 61 in a nine wickets win.

Ata-ur-Rehman maintained his good start with Esh Winning when he captured seven wickets for a meagre 20 runs against Brandon for whom Australian Robert Morgan scored almost half the runs contributing 48.

Esh had a fight on their hands when they batted as Michael Tinkler picked up three wickets but Graham Hurst (27 not out) came to the rescue to secure a three wickets victory.

Simon Davies crashed a magnificent 144 for Tudhoe at home to Willington. He struck no fewer than ten sixes and 11 boundaries from the 88 balls he received.

Davies was not the only star in the Tudhoe innings which ended at 212. Willington's Gary Cummings took a hat-trick and ended with figures of 6-52 from 11.3 overs.

Despite 61 from Gary Wyatt, Willington ended on only 147 as Shahid Anwar weighed in with 4-19 from 11.3 overs.

Kimblesworth, with hopes of regaining the title, suffered a five wickets defeat at Etherley where they were pegged to 157-8, including 60 by David Sanger with five sixes and three fours.

Eddie Seery and Yasaf Tillekaratne did the damage with the ball and Carl McGregor scored most of Etherley's runs, adding 84 with a couple of sixes and seven boundaries.

Steve Brodrick and Malcolm Lower combined to send Shildon back for 89 at Sedgefield who won at a canter when Nick Payne (34 not out) and Wilkinson (28 not out) figured in an unbroken partnership for the third wicket.

Norton suffered an early exit in the Foster's ECB North East Regional Premier League Banks Salver when South Northumberland had 73 runs to spare, Martin Speight and Adam Heather both made 55 as South North reached 217-5 and replying, Norton managed only 144 all out with more than half the runs coming from Marc Symington (73).

Philadelphia, without three regulars, produced a good batting performance to defeat Gateshead Fell. Faced with a target of 227, they were indebted to Jim Allenby who made the game's top score of 72 and to Freddie Napier (54) and captain Graham Hoban (44 not out).

Durham Academy had just one ball and one wicket to spare against Chester-le-Street at Ropery Lane. Allan Worthy's half century put the Cestrians into a strong position but Academy's newcomer Kyle Coezter gave the reply a sound platform making 59 and Paul Craig, who went in at number 10, won the match carrying his bat for 36.

Newcastle's captain Wayne Ritzema led from the front scoring 83 out of a total of 235-7 which neighbours Benwell Hill failed by 23 runs to match.