Readers Durham County League

ESH Winning, Tudhoe and Kimblesworth continue to set the pace at the top.

They all dodged the rain last Saturday to chalk up maximum points, although Esh retained the leadership.

Crook Town fell victim to the fine form of Esh, who were set 168 to win and managed it with five wickets to spare. Five bowlers kept the Crook batsmen under control, with Daniel Wilkinson top-scoring with 40 and Farooq Hussain unbeaten on 31.

Crook employed even more bowlers - seven in all - when Esh Winning replied, but it didn't subdue Carmody and Robson, who shared in a third-wicket stand. Carmody made 49 and Robson added 46 before Farookh Iqbal (29 not out) hit the winning runs.

Tudhoe made 236-7 against Evenwood, with Hodgson unlucky to be out just six runs short of a century and Davis, his opening partner, happy to contribute a half-century.

But the man-of-the-match was Sachin Rana, who hit 41 and then helped himself to six wickets cheaply to send Evenwood packing for a disappointing 91 as Tudhoe won by an impressive 145 runs.

Shildon and Willington share fourth place in the table after beating Hylton and Langley Park respectively.

Willington had a trio of match-winners in Lyle House (5-30), Clarke (53no) and Brown (47) as they disposed of Langley Park by seven wickets.

The Park were all out for 127, of which opening batsman Home made 64. It didn't go unnoticed that Home was bowled by House!

The match between Brandon and Mainsforth never got started because of the rain.