Durham Cricket League: Bellerby and Thomas the stars as Boldon CA outgun Silksworth to go top in Division Two

Karl Bellerby hit a superb 77, backed by Jamie Carroll (66no) and Alex Thomas (56) as Boldon declared on 235-4 after 44 overs. Robbie Jones grabbed 2-36, with Michael Waterson and Greg Davison also striking.

In reply, Silksworth’s innings lasted 41 overs, but they were all out for just 105, with only opener Andy Barrass (18) reaching double figures.

Thomas was outstanding for Boldon, taking 5-15, while Bellerby took 2-9 in nine overs and Dom Slater 2-11 in eight overs.

Littletown saw off hosts Dawdon by 71 runs at Green Drive to go second.

The visitors made 159-9 declared after opting to bat, led by opener Matt Dench’s 73-ball 50, with eight boundaries.

Calvin Stephenson (28, with three fours and a six) and Patrick Stephenson (42, with six fours and a six) put on 52 for the fifth wicket. Littletown slipped from 158-5 to 159-9 in double quick time.

Mark Ewart snatched 3-39 for Dawdon, backed by Faz Hussain (3-52), Steven Gale (2-21) and David Coates (1-41).

Four of Dawdon’s top five batsmen all fell for ducks as the home side struggled badly in their reply, slipping to 0-3, 6-4 and 18-5 before skipper Ryan Consitt (49, with four fours and four sixes) put on 52 for the seventh wicket with Andrew Gale (8). only Jamie Greenwood (12) also got into double figures as Dawdon were skittled for 88 in 27.2 overs.

Bryan Conlon shone with 4-32, while Patrick Stephenson took 3-25 and Calvin Stephenson 2-9).

Ryhope enjoyed their first ever league visit to newcomers Hunwick, securing a comfortable six-wicket victory.

Hunwick, promoted from the North East Durham League, chose to bat and made 165 all out, inspired by Liam Morris’s 58, with four fours and five sixes. Ritch Breen added 22 and Jack Mensforth 25no, with David Craig the pick of the bowlers, with 5-34. Johnny Hayes weighed in with 3-29, while Jonny Errington and David Kirtley also struck.

Ryhope were 34-2 in reply, but Matthew Kirtley (75, with 12 fours and a six) and skipper Paul Jenkin (48, with five fours and a six) took them to the brink of victory before Scott Lawrence (14no) saw them over the line. Mensforth grabbed 2-51 for Hunwick.

Hylton fell to a 68-run defeat away to Langley Park, after being bowled out for 116.

Langley, who elected to bat, were dismissed for 184 in 44 overs, led by 65 from opener Simon Huscroft, with nine fours and a six.

Jonna Lane (36) and Connor Shipley (24) offered the best support as Chris starred with the ball, taking 4-38 in 11 overs. Adam Bewick took 3-20 and Steven-Lee Merrington 2-51, with Marlon Black grabbing 1-43.

Hylton opener Matty Billyard had nine fours in an excellent 50, but Bewick (18), Kevin Mustard (13) and Lee Jackson (12) could only help them fold for 116 in 34 overs.

Robin Hiles took 3-32 and Craig Robertson 3-27, while Lane bagged 2-2.

Evenwood drew at home to Murton, with the visitors scoring 197 all out, mainly thanks to John Leslie hitting 47 and Josh Greenfield 70, with Mohammed Shoaib taking 5-50.

Evenwood scored 169-6 in reply, with Owen Peddelty making 52, Shahid Khan 42 and Tommy Teesdale 47, with Alan Welburn returning 4-23.

Peterlee went to Ushaw Moor and earned a decent draw in a high-scoring game.

Ushaw racked up 202-9, with Mike Thorpe making 68 and James Garraghan taking 4-36.

In reply, Peterlee scored 192-8 after 52 overs, with Zachary McCaskie scoring 61 and David Garraghan 31, while Stephen Hancock took 3-32.

Peterlee were just 11 runs short of victory when the end came.

Ushaw Moor went third in the table.

Easington dropped to second place in Division One despite a crushing nine-wicket victory at Seaham Park.

They bowled the home side out for just 81, with Omar Shahid claiming 3-24.

Mark Race top-scored with 32 for Park, and Brian Dobinson was dismissed for 22, as they recovered from 15-4, only to declare on 81-9.

Easington’s bowlers were dominant, with Duvindu Tillakaratne taking 2-13, Jordan Wilson 2-11 and Gary Ward 2-32. The star of the show was Omar Shahid, who claimed 3-24.

Easington eased to victory, led by 45 not out from opener Jonathan Davis, while Mark Cowell was unbeaten on 22.

Durham City stopped the rot with a six-wicket success at Mainsforth, following defeats in their first two matches.

City’s batsmen had a day to savour, despite falling to 14-2, as Nick Howe made 32 before Mark Woodhead (75no) and Callum Steel (134no) added 192 in a memorable, unbroken fifth-wicket partnership to steer the visitors to 257-4 declared.

Mainsforth were quickly in trouble in their reply, at 9-2 and 26-4, and they lasted only 34 overs before being sent back for 105, led by Nathan Wall (25) and Aidan Cummings (20).

Andrew Hutchinson starred with 4-25 in 11 overs, backed by Rob Macdonald (3-20) and Paul Moralee (2-28)

Philadelphia outgunned visitors Bill Quay by 73 runs at Bunker Hill.

Phili batted first and made 233-3, with Shaun Smith scoring a brilliant 151 not out and new professional Rameez Shahzad helping himself to 47.

Shahzad then turned it on with the ball, taking 4-15, while Adam McGuire returned 3-49, to bowl the home side out for 160.

David Hill, with 37, and Berwick Hall (31) were the only batsmen to offer much resistance.

Crook proved too strong for hosts Horden, running out 60-run winners to move top of the table.

Crook declared on 182-9 after 41 overs, having lost the toss and been put into bat.

They were 16-2 early on, but George Westlake hit 10 fours in 72, Daniel Doram had five boundaries in 27 and David Embleton managed five fours in a 28-ball 34.

Evan Roberts was the pick of Horden’s bowlers, snaffling 4-33, while Lewis Broom took 2-44 and JP Meade 2-22.

Horden made a good start as Wayne Birks (25, with two fours and a six) and Adam Dixon (22) put on 48 for the first wicket.

But they slipped to 67-4 before Meade steadied the ship, with a patient 35 off 78 balls, with a six.

Joe Pearson added 16 down the order, but Horden were dismissed for 122 in the 44th over as Doram (4-17) and Steven Chapman (4-22) took the bowling honours.

Tudhoe beat Esh Winning by seven wickets after restricting the home side to 179-9 declared.

Stuart Hall (30), Daniel Wilkinson (44, with seven fours) and Jon Hodgson (28) did best for Esh as Roshan Jayatissa plundered 4-47, Ian Grainger took 2-51 and Abhiram Joshi 2-38.

Dan Thexton was the star turn as Tudhoe claimed victory in 42.3 overs, with 11 fours in a 75-ball 78 not out. He put on 99 for the third wicket with Jayatissa (52). Jamie Robinson grabbed 2-44.

Whiteleas and Harton made the short journey to Marsden, but were skittled for just 61, with Steven Neilson (3-47) and Paul Snaith (4-20) doing the damage.

Marsden knocked off the required runs for the loss of just two wickets. Marsden are third in the league following their win.