Durham Cricket League: Kirtley's superb century guides Ryhope home by five wickets against Peterlee in a thriller

The hosts won the toss and opted to bat, with Zachary McCaskie revelling in the decision, as the No 4 batsman hit 10 fours and two sixes in a memorable 118-ball 101.

However, he only had good support from Daniel Devine (13) and Andrew Laidler (25) as Peterlee were all out for 183 in 47.2 overs.

Jonny Errington had a day to savour, plundering 5-29 in 12 overs, with Liam Stores, David Craig and Graham Pickering also striking.

Mathew Kirtley was Ryhope’s batting hero, firing 13 fours and a six in a 103-ball 100 not out, seeing the visitors over the line in the 42nd over.

Craig added 12 and Paul Jenkin had eight fours and a six in a 102-ball 58, as 134 runs were put on for the third wicket.

Youngster James Garraghan grabbed 3-44, with Laidler taking 2-60.

Victory lifted Ryhope to second spot.

Silksworth found visitors Ushaw Moor too hot to handle as they succumbed to a seven-wicket defeat.

Opener Andy Barrass hit four boundaries in 32 for Silksworth, who were put in to bat, but only Gary McAvoy (15) and Phil Middlemiss (23), with two fours apiece, also reached double figures as they were dismissed for 115 in 41.4 overs.

Stephen Hancock bagged 3-8 in 8.4 excellent overs, while Steven Milburn took 3-26 and Mike Thorpe 3-29.

Ushaw Moor got home in the 28th over, led by Lewis Cook’s unbeaten 47, with six fours, while John Southeran had five boundaries in a 31-ball 29.

Robbie Jones, Mark Forster and Greg Davison took the wickets to fall.

Murton went down by 89 runs to Langley Park, despite a decent bowling effort in restricting the visitors to 159 all out.

Openers Simon Huscroft (38) and Suraj Yadhav (31) led the way for Langley, before Callum Wooler hit 35 down the order, with Sam Sanderson claiming 5-53 in a tremendous bowling effort.

However, Murton could only muster 70 all out in reply, with Jordan Vout top scoring on 23 not out. The bowling honours went to Jason Winn (6-35) and Robin Hiles (4-34).

Newcomers Hunwick stunned Littletown with a one-wicket away success..

Littletown, who chose to bat, declared on 190-9 after 40.1 overs, with Dan Pearson hitting eight fours and two sixes in a blistering 36-ball 50. Bryan Conlon was run out for 49, after fours and a six, while opener Jack Weeks had seven fours and a six in a 37-ball 39, while Calvin Stephenson added 30 off 26 balls.

Angus Hopper took 2-40 and Dan Keegan 2-39, with three wickets coming from run-outs.

Hunwick showed great resilience to get home on 191-9 in 47.1 overs, with runs throughout the side, notably from Chris Pratt (37, with five fours and two sixes), Chris Elms (31) and Stephen Newton (23). Hopper and Chris Mulkerrin saw them over the line as the final two batsmen.

Weeks grabbed 3-54 in vain, while Conlon, Stephenson and Nathan Birch all struck twice.

Evenwood went top of the table, after a 66-run home win over previous leaders Boldon CA.

They made 196-7, with Shahid Khan scoring 59 not out and Luke Bannister and Tommy Teesdale each making 26. Boldon’s Shanaz Halaldeen grabbed 3-35 and Karl Bellerby took 2-24.

Boldon CA, in reply, were all out for 130, mainly thanks to the bowling of Khan, who took 4-26. Yaqoob also grabbed four wickets. Bellerby hit 47 runs and Alex Thomas 26.

Easington moved top of Division One after a mammoth 149-run victory at home to Mainsforth.

Easington amassed 206-2, batting first, with Ryan Higgins making 44, Jason Moses 33 not out and Jonathan Davis 82, with three sixes and 12 fours.

Daryl Hickey top-scored with 20 for Mainsforth before he was brilliantly stumped by Jason Moses. Mainsforth ended up skittled for 57 as Omar Shahid (6-22) and Duvindu Tillakaratne (3-8) did the damage with the ball.

The 30 points from their fourth win out of four took Easington into spot spot.

Durham City scored 230-7 but still lost by two wickets to Whiteleas & Harton.

Openers Tom Balkwill (42) and Jonny Harding (31) made a good start, with Callum Steel adding 45 and Alex Cook 35, but it was not enough.

Whiteleas also batted well, with Alan Beadle making 64, Rameez Nawaz 37, Hafiz Aleem 45 and Biliwal Iqbal 50 not out as they squeezed home by two wickets.

Seaham Park succumbed to a seven-wicket defeat away to Tudhoe, despite posting a healthy 219, thanks largely to a magnificent 153 not out from Indian debutant Virat Singh, which included 18 fours and two sixes, from 120 balls.

Neil Young added 17, with Joe Dodd taking 4-36. Roshan Jayatissa and Abhiram Joshi both struck twice.

Tudhoe replied with 223-3, batting well to chase down the target, with Ben Wicling making a fine century (118) and Ian Grainger adding an unbeaten 62.

Bill Quay secured a nine-run success against Horden after putting on 233-7, batting first, inspired by a brilliant 106 from Alan Mustard, while Michael Orridge made 31 not out. Lewis Broom grabbed 3-55.

In reply, Horden made 224 all out, coming up just 10 runs short of victory, with Liam Irving scoring 50 before he was trapped lbw off the bowling of Berwick Hall, who went on to take five wickets for the loss of 47 runs.

Adam Dixon hit 38 and pro JP Meade batted superby to make 74. But once Scott Birks (24) and Meade went, Horden’s hopes departed.

Esh Winning and Philadelphia played out a draw at Bunker Hill.

Esh amassed 225-5, with David Lawlor making 62 not out, Jonathan Hodgson 41 and Eddie Watson 59 not out.

In reply, the home side never looked likely winners with 171-7, with Ryan Dowens making 44 and Gary Braithwaite 48.

High-flying Crook secured a six-wicket victory over Marsden in the top flight’s game of the day.

Marsden declared on 148-9 after 30.3 overs, with Chris Mann top-scoring on 54 from 68 balls, with six fours and two sixes). Evans added 33, with two fours and two sixes.

Daniel Doram marked his home debut with 5-37 for Crook, while Steven Chapman took 2-36.

Crook were never in trouble as they stormed to victory in 25.4 overs, with Stuart Newton hitting 10 fours in a 62-ball 50 and Doram adding three fours and four sixes in a blistering 26-ball 42. Seth grabbed 2-13 in vain.