Stockton remain bottom and are six points adrift and will be relegated from the Dukes ECB North East Premier League if they lose on Saturday at Newcastle.
They travelled to Tynemouth and the home side scored a mammoth 303-5 declared, after being asked to bat first. Matthew Brown scored 80 and Stuart Poynter 149.
The Teessiders made only 166 all out, Hassan Raza top scoring with 52. Wesley Bedja claimed 4-37 and Andrew Smith 4-25 to win by 137 runs.
Chester-le-Street hosted relegation-threatened Eppleton, who eased their worried.
Chester made 239-9, mainly thanks to Quinten Hughes who made 95 not out from 104 balls, which included nine fours and two sixes, while Connor Whitelock took 5-65 and Josh Coughlin claimed 3-33.
The visitors held on for the draw at 175-9, with runs from Luke Henderson (43) Joseph Coyne (33) and Marcus Brown (63) and are now 15 points ahead of Stockton.
Struggling Sacriston travelled to South North, and collected eight welcome points from their draw to stay six points ahead of Stockton. The home side formalised their second title in successive years, as they totalled 195 all out. Skipper Adam Cragg top scored with 72 not out and opener Simon Birtwisle made 43, with John Graham adding 34. Callum Appleby returned an excellent 5-44 and Graeme Bridge 3-58.
The determined visitors made 185-8, thanks to 66 from Johnny Bushnell, despite Liam Trevaskis claiming 4-34.
Hetton Lyons won again, this time at Felling, to stay third. The Lyons racked up 247-9, with Jarvis Clay making 56 and Christopher Winn cracked 76 off 57 balls, which included nine fours and four sixes, while opener Jonathan Malkin made 53.
Felling, 20 points clear of Stockton, were all out for 160, with Chris Ralston claiming 4-33 and Jonathan Malkin 3-46.
The Durham Cricket Academy slumped to 110 all out against Whitburn, as Craig Smith and Chris Stewart each took three wickets apiece. Only Tom Mackintosh put up any resistance with 31 runs. Whitburn’s Lee Henderson then made 34, as they lost five wickets in pursuit of the total, as Faizan Hussain took 4-16.
In the Northumberland and Tyneside Cricket League, Shotley Bridge won at Ashington, but cannot win the league as they are 37 points behind new leaders Swalwell.
They scored 174 all out, thanks to 71 from Paul Greenwell, as Ben O’Brien claimed an excellent 6-34. The home side only made 110 in reply, with Kieran Milburn taking a brilliant 7-15, from 9.3 overs.
Lanchester made 269-3 at relegated Stocksfield, with Graham Brinton scoring 80, Sam Crooks 65 and Callum Barnes 56 not out. Greg Halliday then took 3-37 and Barnes claimed 3-4 with the ball, leaving the home side all out on 128.
In Division Two, Leadgate are still fourth and 20 points behind leaders Morpeth after they entertained Tillside and won by eight wickets. The visitors only made 97, as David Richardson claimed 4-13 and then they knocked off the required runs, as Luke McCabe scored 51 not out, in a total of 99-2.
Readers Durham Cricket League leaders Easington have a 15-point advantage going into the last game, as they won by six wickets at Durham City, who scored 143 all out. At one point, they were 60-4, but David Tarn was their hero with the bat, making 87 not out and Jason Moses added 47 not out in 144-4.
Evenwood are third in Division Two and still have a chance of promotion, as they walloped Langley Park by 179 runs. Thomas Teasdale snr scored 59 and namesake jnr made 63 and Darren Wallace 48, in 254-7 declared. They bowled out Langley for just 75, as Shahid Khan returned a majestic 9-30.
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