Durham Cricket League: Singh on song, but Philadelphia fall further off the title pace in Seaham Park draw

Philadelphia fell 77 points behind runaway Division One leaders Burnopfield after having to settle for a losing draw at home to Seaham Park.
Horden celebrate after taking the wicket of Easington batsman Sujit Nayak  on Saturday.Horden celebrate after taking the wicket of Easington batsman Sujit Nayak  on Saturday.
Horden celebrate after taking the wicket of Easington batsman Sujit Nayak on Saturday.

Park produced a very respectable 216-5, with opener Davey Hanson (53) top-scoring and Michael Walker making 37.

Although Phili lost an early wicket, they put together some decent partnerships, but a collapse near the end had them hanging on at 163-8.

Sujit Nayak bats for Easington against Horden on Saturday.Sujit Nayak bats for Easington against Horden on Saturday.
Sujit Nayak bats for Easington against Horden on Saturday.
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Amarjeet Singh led the Bunker Hill side with 59 not out, with Paul Hollinshead hitting 31, while Omar Shahid and Siddharth Chitnis claimed three wickets each for the visitors.

Dawdon were looking to drag themselves back into the title chase by beating Burnopfield at Green Drive, but were blown away for just 85, with Nathan Newton (37) and Bhavesh Patel (21) top-scoring as opening bowler Neil Killeen plundered 3-12 and Laurence Wood 3-25.

James Radcliffe blasted 52 not out to see the visitors home by nine wickets.

Esh Winning moved into third place with a winning draw at home to Bill Quay and next meet Burnopfield.

Sujit Nayak bats for Easington against Horden on Saturday.Sujit Nayak bats for Easington against Horden on Saturday.
Sujit Nayak bats for Easington against Horden on Saturday.
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Jonny Hall’s brilliant 82 allowed the home side to post 243-9 declared, Josh Eaton taking 3-68. Bill Quay started very positively, with openers Jeff Tudor (57) and Chris Little (46) forming the base for the resistance, But Jordan Grosset (3-39), Jibran Khan (2-28) and Michael Oughton (2-14) bowled well to put them in trouble, but they held on at 162-9.

Castle Eden won the relegation battle against Durham City and moved within two points of their rivals.

They scored 167-9 declared, thanks to some late hitting from Richard Ede (37) and Liam Clarke-Brown (36). Opening bowler Andrew Hutchinson took 3-43 for the visitors.

Then the Castle Eden bowlers got to work, with Alan Unsworth taking a remarkable 5-6 and Keith Bailey 4-17 as City’s batting just collapsed to 61 all out.

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Lal Kumar with 47, including four fours and two sixes off just 55 balls, gave Horden’s survival hopes a massive boost with a six-wicket derby win over Easington.

Earlier, Ryan Higgins and Robert Atherton dug in with 32 runs each for the visitors, but a meagre total of 108 was not going to be enough. Horden’s Lewis Broom returned 3-16, backed by Kumar (2-21) amd Ben Green (2-16).

Kumar was supported by Carl Watson (26) and Wayne Birks (17) in chasing down the target in 22.2 overs. Sujit Nayak took 2-7 in five overs.

Bottom club Hylton were again beaten, this time at home by Crook Town.

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The visitors produced an excellent score of 196-4, with Andrew Pratt (64) and Andrew Burgess (62no) leading the way.

But Hylton, after putting on 59 for the first wicket, only managed a meagre 110 in reply, with Neil Davies taking a brilliant 6-18 in 10.1 overs. Openers Ben Clark (37) and Tanz Choudray (18) top-scored for Hylton. Tearan Gleeson bagged 2-35.

In Division Two, the top-of-the-table clash between Evenwood and Murton went the home side’s way. They scored heavily, with Mairaj Khan smashing 94, to reach a total of 202-9 declared. Chris Winn, with 3-45, the pick of the bowling attack.

When it was Murton’s time to bat, Thomas Teesdale (4-23) and Oliver Wilkinson (3-30) ripped through their batting and the visitors ended with a paltry 77, Khan again in the match with 2-16.

Littletown also made up ground, with victory over Houghton.

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Littletown’s batting was steady and they totalled 163-9 declared and then set about the Houghton batting.

Shashikant Kadam (4-6) and Berwick Hall (3-9) were the destroyers in the main and the home side collapsed to 51 all out, furthering their relegation fears..

Whiteleas amassed 227-5, in their draw against Ryhope with three half-centuries from Ray McRae (54), Scott Oliver (50no) and Abdul Ameer (54). Jack Tomlin bowled well for 3-36.

Ryhope batted well and ended up on 183-6, with Chris Lawrence the star of the show with 13 boundaries in a brilliant, unbeaten 73, Adrian Hedleyt hit six fours and six before falling for 38, while Scott Lawrence added 23 and Sagar Udeshi 18. Abdul Ameer snatched 3-40.

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At the wrong end of the table, Silksworth were again beaten at home, this time by Langley Park, who finished seven-wicket victors.

Opener Andy Barrass impressed with a 126-ball knock of 71, while Paul Howe and Ben Sims each made 16. Anshul Sanghavi claimed 3-31 as Silksworth ended on 142-8 after 42 overs.

In reply, Steven Jackson (41) and Jonna Lane (73) saw their side comfortably home inside 29 overs.

In a rain-affected game, Marsden declared on 100-3 at home to Boldon CA, with Christopher Mann smashing 69 not out.

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Then their bowlers got to work and Christopher Mann again tortured the visitors with 3-14, sending them into deep relegation trouble after being all out for 80.

Peterlee beat Ushaw Moor by just one wicket. Ushaw batted first, making 194, with John Southeran hitting 48, backed by 28 apiece from Lee Hayton and Peter Maddison.

David Craig snaffled 5-50. Aaron Shellie then smashed 80 and Craig added 30 to help Peterlee get just over the line.

Stephen Hancock (4-41) and Ross Whelpdale (3-49) did their best, in vain, to stop them.