Junior cricket: Whitburn U15s off to a flier as Mason Bell and Finlay Hearn grab three wickets apiece

Fell were all out for 68, led by Ellis Warren, with Mason Bell taking 3-5, Finlay Hearn 3-1 and George Fairbairn 2-17.

Ben Kennedy (24no) and Jude Ramsey (23no) guided Whitburn to victory in 11 overs.

Sunderland lost their Group B tie by 52 runs to Willington.

Joe Defty took 3-35 as Willington made 213-5, with Joe Davies retiring on 103 and Isaac Fernyhough adding 53 not out.

Sunderland replied with 161-8, led by Defty’s 60, featuring seven fours and a six. Donaghue added 21 and Boyzyk 15.

In Group A, Eppleton beat Castle Eden by seven wickets.

Eoin Nicholson (13no) and Jake Pratt (12) steered Eppleton home after Castle Eden were bowled out for 57, despite 31 from Josh Taylor. Pratt grabbed 3-6.

In the U15 Shield Group B, Hetton Lyons defeated South Shields by seven wickets.

Ben Scott hit 30 in Shields’ 45 all out, as Oliver Watt took 3-6, Jack Hutchinson 2-3 and Luke Husband 2-11.

Hutchinson (12) and Joe Weightman (18no) led Lyons home in 14 overs.

Eppleton enjoyed a nine-wicket victory over Sacriston in the opening round of the Durham Cricket Board Junior League’s Central Division Ken Ferguson Memorial Trophy.

Sacriston struggled to 36-5, despite 18 from Joshua Hornsby, with Jake Pratt starring with the ball.

Jye Richardson (22) and Hollie Forsyth (11) saw Eppleton home in 7.1 overs.

Chester-le-Street were comfortable winners over Philadelphia after making 125-2.

Robbie Dawson (66) and Aaradhya Tiwari (35) led the way, with Davidson and Walton taking the wickets.

Phili replied with 65 all out, thanks largely to Archie Smiles (19) and Luke Robinson (15).