Durham Cricket League: Sri Lankan star Tillakaratne the star again as Easington make it two wins out of two

He returned 5-23 in eight overs to help his side to a two-wicket victory, making it two wins out of two so far and guiding them into top spot in Division One.

Esh Winning struggled to 109-9, with John Carmedy making 56, denying Easington the maximum five bowling points by declaring after 35 overs, having lost six wickets for just 11 runs after being 98-3.

Omar Shahid took 2-23 in 10 overs to support Tillakaratne.

Easington squeezed home despite their own troubles with the bat, with opener Ryan Higgins trapped lbw two runs short of a half-century. Jason Moses added a crucial, unbeaten 18 to guide Easington home, partnered by Tallakaratne (12).

All-rounder Adam Dixon was the star man as Horden enjoyed a comfortable eight-wicket win at Whiteleas and Harton.

Dixon plundered 5-20 in 12 overs of spin, with six maidens, as Whiteleas were restricted to 147-9 in 50 overs. Alan Beadle made 30 and Nathan Ullah contributed an excellent 41, with Sam Ingamells ending unbeaten on 19.

Dixon then hit 16 boundaries and a six in a brilliant, unbeaten knock of 81 to steer Horden home to victory in the 30th over. Fellow opener Liam Irving, who helped put on 108 for the first wicket, hit six fours in 43, with professional JP Meade adding 13 not out.

Philadelphia held on for a ‘losing’ draw against Tudhoe.

James Curry (45) top-scored with six fours and a six in Tudhoe’s 188 all out, backed by Ian Grainger (27), Roshan Jayatissa (21) and Dan Brown (20).

Reece Wood was the pick of Phili’s bowlers, grabbing 4-57, while Adam McGuire took 3-29 in 12 overs and Stevie Wright took 2-26.

Both Phili openers fell cheaply, but Ryan Dowens hit six fours and a six in a fine knock of 49, off 66 balls, putting on 59 for the third wicket with Paul Hollinshead (20).

Gary Braithwaite had three fours and a six in 21, while McGuire made 18 down the order, with Phili hanging on, on 166-9, when the end came after 46 overs.

Seaham Park won at home to Durham City by a massive 152 runs.

Park racked up 261-8 declared, thanks to Chris Allan’s fine knock of 67 and a brilliant 123 from Adrian Hedley, despite Danielle Hazell returning excellent figures of 6-32.

When City batted, they were all out for just 93, with David Gilbert (3-34) and Michael McNicholas (3-9) the stars of the show with the ball.

Marsden battled for a three-wicket win over Mainsforth.

Darren Hickey fired a tremendous 103 to help Mainsforth to declare on 234-8 after 45.4 overs, with Paul Cook snatching 3-48 and Chris Mann 3-42.

Marsden had runs throughout their side as they secured victory in the 45th over, with Pat Jackson (55) and David Lowther (54) top-scoring. Sam Crews added 32, with Cook seeing them over the line with an unbeaten 25.

John Cavanagh grabbed 4-51 in vain for Mainsforth.

Crook are second in the fledgling table, thanks to a 77-run away win against Bill Quay.

They scored 140-9, with Stuart Newton (29) top-scoring, while Jarod Van Blerk and Michael Orridge grabbed four wickets apiece.

David Embleton (5-17) and William Angus (5-29) then ripped the home side’s batting apart, with only one batsman, Orridge (12), reaching double figures in 63 all out.

In Division Two, Murton rocked Hylton with a two-wicket home victory on a day when bowlers dominated.

Hylton, put into bat after Murton won the toss, were dismissed for 87 in 24.2 overs, with only four batsmen - Adam Bewick (18), Sheikh Shahzad (17), Andrew Rennoldson (15) and Marion Black (14) - reaching double figures.

John Leslie stole the show for the hosts, grabbing 6-43, while Keith Chapman took 3-36.

Murton were in trouble when their top four batsmen contributed just eight runs combined, but Luke Thompson’s 32-ball 20, with three fours, and Andrew Upperton’s 17, with three boundaries, steadied the ship.

Victory came in the 20th over, helped by Leslie (12) and Chapman (12no). Marlon Black pounced for 4-41, bowling throughout the Murton innings, while Bewick grabbed 3-25.

Dawdon had the better of a ‘winning’ draw against Ryhope, but will be disappointed not to have forced a victory.

Dawdon declared on 203-9 after 44.5 overs, despite losing their first five batsmen cheaply.

Ryan Consitt hit seven fours and a six in a 68-ball 49 before James Dent fired eight fours and two sixes in a memorable 57-ball 70.

Craig Price added 28 and Andrew Gale made 33, with four fours and a six. Jonny Errington (3-43) and Liam Stores (3-22) were Ryhope’s top bowlers, with David Craig, Johnny Hayes and Graham Pickering also striking.

Ryhope were left clinging on, on 133-9 after 50 overs, after Dawdon failed to secure victory. Opener Dan Blackman had six boundaries in an 87-ball 38, while Stores was outstanding in a 95-ball 47 not out, with Scott Lawrence adding 11 and Liam Kirk 10.

Steven Gale took 3-27 for Dawdon, backed by Mark Ewart (2-13 in 12 overs), David Coates (2-35), Hussain (1-28) and Nathan Newton (1-9).

Silksworth were outgunned by 153 runs by ruthless visitors Evenwood, who are the early pace-setters.

Shahid Khan led the way with a stirring 102 as Evenwood put on 246-5 declared in 43.3 overs, supported by Tommy Teesdale snr (51), Tommy Teesdale jnr (43) and Rhys Peairs (26no).

Michael Waterson took 5-69 for Silksworth, with Andy Barrass and David Nunn also striking.

Opener Barrass hit 36 in the home reply, but only Robbie Jones (23) also reached double figures, as Silksworth were dismissed for 93 in 33 overs.

Khan plunderend 4-20, while Teesdale snr grabbed 3-23 and Andrew Rowell 2-17.

Littletown were good 63-run winners at home to Langley Park to go second in the table.

The hosts, put into bat after losing the toss, made 170 all out in 38.2 overs, led by 41 from opener Matt Dench, with seven fours, off 58 balls.

Bryan Conlon added five fours and a six in 37 not out, while Patrick Stephenson made 24 and Dean Pearson 23. Craig Robertson was outstanding for Langley, taking 7-27, while Jason Winn took 2-40.

Langley, though, found life tough in their reply and they were all out for 107, as Conlon snaffled 4-24, Jonathon Weeks took 3-21 and Patrick Stephenson 2-15.

Simon Huscroft top-scored with 38, with five fours and a six, while Sean Platt added 24.

Boldon CA are fourth, following their five-wicket win at Peterlee.

They bowled the Newtowners out for just 89, with Karl Bellerby claiming 6-45 and Shanaz Halaldeen taking 3-22.

In reply, Boldon CA knocked off the winning runs for the loss of five wickets, with Stuart Smith hitting 47 not out, including nine fours, to see his side home safely to victory.

Hunwick totalled a decent score of 193-9 against Ushaw Moor, thanks to their top-order batting with Dan Keegan (47), Fergus Hooper (30), Matty Breen (43) and Iain Steward (34), with Steven Milburn returning 4-24 and Mike Thorpe 3-40.

However, it was not enough as Ushaw Moor triumphed by eight wickets, with Thorpe smashing 82 from 82 balls, Lewis Cook making 30 and skipper Aaron Proud hitting an unbeaten 70 from just 60 balls, including 11 fours and a six.