Durham Cricket League: Dixon and Kumar the heroes as super Horden sink Burnopfield

Horden’s stunning triumph also ended the only remaining unbeaten record in the top flight.

It has to be said that Burnopfield made a fairly generous declaration after 50 overs as they only had 172-6, and this proved fatal as Horden knocked off the runs with ease, winning by seven wickets with more than six overs to spare.

Gareth Breese (58) had once again been the home team’s main man, backed by Neil Killeen (30), Daryl Williams (28no) and David Baxter (23) as Lal Kumar picked up three wickets for 20 runs in 12 overs and Adam Dixon 2-40.

It was the same pairing who completed what they had started as Dixon (70, with six boundaries) shared a third-wicket partnership of 96 with Kumar (52 not out, with three fours and two sixes) which effectively finished the match as a contest.

Wayne Birks (32 not out, with three fours and two sixes) joined Kumar for the charge to the line. Breese took 2-46.

With Burnopfield beaten, Easington managed to cut the gap to pole position to 31 points (from 54) with an important derby win over Castle Eden.

Just 18 runs separated the sides at the end, which put into perspective the performance of Sujit Nayak, the Indian all-rounder scoring 70 in Easington’s total of 181-9, and then bagging six wickets for just 22 runs as Castle had their drawbridge lowered for 163.

Ryan Higgins made 34 for Easington as Keith Bailey and Richard Ede took three wickets apiece. In Castle Eden’s reply, Philip Winpenny hit 64 and Tebogo Mokwena 42, with Tariq Aziz (3-32) supporting Navak.

Dawdon returned to winning ways, but in doing so they increased the plight of stricken Hylton, who look destined for a season-long battle near the foot of the table.

Nathan Newton (48) and Ryan Consitt (58) enjoyed an unbroken seventh-wicket partnership that pushed Dawdon up to 204-6, with Alan Anderson hitting 42 this despite three wickets for West Indian paceman Marlon Black.

There was some resistance when Hylton took their turn at the crease, but it wasn’t enough to stave off defeat as Bavesh Patel (3-20) headed a wicket-taking list that included five bowlers.

Seaham Park made it three straight wins as they overcame hosts Bill Quay (186-9) by four wickets, victory lifting them into third place on the ladder.

Durham City (175-9 in 47.5 overs) slugged out a satelemate with Philadelphia (122-7 in 47 overs) in which City skipper Jake McCann made 78 and Stevie Wright took five wickets for Phili.

Adam McGuire top-scored with an unbeaten 41 for the Bunker Hill outfit, with City bowlers Danni Hazell and David Newsome both striking three times.

Crook Town were inspired by Tearan Gleeson’s unbeaten knock of 80 as they edged home by three wicket after Esh Winning declared on 177-8, when William Angus plundered 4-53.