SACRISTON failed in their desperate chase for points in the Dukes ECB North East Premier League at home to Benwell Hill and scored 173 all out, mainly thanks to 34 from Mohsin Mukhtar. Ben Hall took an impressive 4-46 and James Thompson 3-17.

The home side then batted well and thanks to opener James Thompson scoring 70 from 113 balls, which included eight fours and two sixes, ensured a crucial win and 30 points to close the gap on third-bottom Felling, who lost at Chester-le-Street, and gained six points on second-bottom Eppleton, despite their win at home to Whitburn.

Eppleton batted first against Whitburn and opener Luke Henderson was assured throughout, scoring 83 from 154 balls, which included 11 fours and a six, but wickets tumbled around him. Kieran Waterson took 5-37, in 163 all out.

Whitburn struggled to 56-5, with Joseph Coyne taking 4-36 and Craig Scurr 3-25, to bowl out the visitors for 117. They won by 46 runs and claimed 24 points.

Hetton Lyons welcomed third-bottom Newcastle. The home side racked up 262-5 and still got beat. Stuart Walker scored 71, Jack Burnham 43 and Chris Winn 81 not out.

Newcastle batted brilliantly as Michael Richardson scored 114 from 122 balls, which included 14 fours and two sixes. Skipper Jacques Do Toit added 66 not out from 57 balls, and Alexander Simpson smashed 40 not out from 27.

Chester-le-Street, in second, travelled to Felling and scored a huge 281-7 declared, mainly thanks to Andrew Smith who cracked 69, Jacob McCann 70 and skipper John Coxon 61 not out.

Felling made just 150, as Stephen Cantwell took 3-25, but Andrew Bell took a magnificent 7-31.

The Durham Cricket Academy won at Stockton. The home side made 231-7 declared, thanks to 62 from Tom Hewison, 52 from George Harding and 40 from Joe Hewison, despite Faizan Hussain claiming 4-47. Ben Seabrook (98) and Ross Greenwell (94), put on 206 for the first wicket in 232-3, to win by seven wickets.

Shotley Bridge are back in the Northumberland and Tyneside Cricket League title race, 11 points behind new leaders Consett, with four games to go. They batted against Alnmouth and Ledsbury and made 249 all out. Greg Patterson with 38, Kieran Milburn 44, Paul Greenwell 41 and Mick Allen 57 were the run-makers, while Dushan Hemantha, Robert Bennett and Callum Batey (3 in 5 balls), each took three wickets.

Alnmouth made 155 all out, with Dushan Hemantha scoring 98, but Joe Gibson with 4-29 and Tom May 3-38, were too good.

Lanchester travelled to Consett and batted first making 210 all out, thanks to Callum Barnes smashing 84 not out from 90 balls, which included 14 fours. Gary Hunter and Sadiq Amin each took three wickets.

Consett made a wobbly start, but Gary Hunter’s 82 and Kamran Mansoor’s 68, put on 134 for the fourth wicket, to guide their team on 216-9, despite Kieron Taylor and Lewis Donnelly claiming three wickets each. Last man Paul Ringer kept to keep out three balls at the end, before Sadiq Amin smashed a six to win the match by one wicket and go see his team go top.

Division Two leaders Leadgate travelled to Seaton Burn and had an easy nine-wicket win and still lead by nine points. The home side were 64 all out, thanks to James Radcliffe taking a brilliant 7-25 and then Luke McCabe smashed 53 not out, off just 37 balls, which included nine fours and two sixes, to claim the win.

Readers Durham League leaders Easington held on for a draw at home to second-placed Crook.

The visitors made a decent 193-6, mainly thanks to 32 from Andrew Pratt and 30 from Andrew Burgess, while Duvindu Tillakaratne claimed 3-32.

Opening bowlers David Embleton with 4-33 and Edward Wells 4-37, did their utmost best to get their team over the line, but the leaders held on at 86-9, thanks to Dane Wilson’s 13 not out from 93 balls and last man Jordan Wilson one not out from 31 balls.