Captain Adam Heather and Chris Hewison produced a marvellous second-wicket partnership on the splendid Bunker Hill wicket which propelled championship challengers South Northumberland past 300.

The runs flowed all around the ground as the pair added 273 runs enabling Heather to apply the declaration with 312-1 on the board from only 58 overs.

Heather finished unbeaten on 122, but Hewison was even more devastating on the six-man attack, helping himself to a couple of sixes and 28 boundaries in his 165 not out. Philadelphia were rocked when skipper Andrew Roseberry, Graham Hoban and Freddie Napier managed just 16 runs between them. From that point, it became a question of survival and they too had a century-maker in Jim Allenby, who helped save his side from defeat.

He struck three sixes and 16 fours in 108 which together with an unbeaten 44 by Shoaib Akhtar enabled Phili to gain a draw with 217-8. Dewalt Pretorus bowled his maximum 20 overs in taking 4-42 and John Graham returned 3-44 from 13 overs but the pair failed to dislodge either Akhtar or Phil Empson in the closing overs.

Benwell Hill strengthened their grip on the leadership and dented the hopes of Chester-le-Street, who were sent back for only 90 by the combined efforts of Shahid Nazir, David Rutherford and Lee Crozier.

James Miller opened the Benwell Hill innings with a half century and a number of useful contributions took the score past the 200 mark even though Ashley Day claimed four wickets for 31 runs.

At the other end of the table, Norton suffered a nine-wicket defeat at home to Sunderland. Kenny Gresham battled away for 39 but with little support, the innings ended on 134 following 45.2 overs.

Spinner Stephen Merrington celebrated his debut with four wickets for just 25 runs. The returning Sunderland captain Simon Old was quickly into his stride and his unbroken second-wicket partnership with John Atkinson secured a handsome victory in 33.3 overs.

Tynemouth are still second from the basement even though they piled up the runs in their drawn game with Newcastle.

Professional Amol Mazumdar made his best score of the season and he was just a couple of runs short of a century after hitting three sixes and five boundaries.

The Indian figured in a first-wicket stand of 83 with Wayne Falla, who found the boundary line on no fewer than ten occasions contributing 53. Mazumdar and John Burn (43) then added 99 and a late unbeaten 30 from Barry Stewart took the Seasiders to 264-5 from the maximum 65 overs.

Captain for the day Wayne Ritzema led by example when he opened Newcastle's reply.

When three batsmen went quickly, Ritzema found a partner in Bill Allen (44) before being seventh out with the score on 172.

Ritzema recorded 106 but following his dismissal the innings petered to 214-8 in 55 overs.

Blaydon were just ten runs short of victory when their game with Stockton was abandoned because of rain. Chris Hooker, with 74 and Alan Walker (44) led the visitors to 207-8 with Gary Stewart taking 4-28 in the Blaydon attack.

Ian Somerville (61), Paul Underwood (54 no) and Stewart with an unbeaten 41 swept Blaydon to 198-4 before the weather intervened. On a day when runs were plentiful, Gary Scott was a century-maker for Durham Academy against Gateshead Fell. The youngster ended unbeaten on 130 out of a total of 283-8.

Tim Gilbert carried his bat for 50, but the visitors were 74 runs short of victory with just four wickets left when time was called.