DURHAM LEAGUES REVIEW.

Byline: CHRIS WEST 

THERE was no doubting the performance of the day in the 3D Durham Coast League, or even in the whole county, as Castle Eden's Calvin Stephenson took all 10 wickets against Easington to maintain his side's position as joint leaders.

Before this solo blast, Castle had declared their innings on 158-6 after time was lost to the rain, and this left them 32 overs to force victory, Stephenson striking the historical 10th blow with just three left to go.

And it may well have been a different story, with two catches going down off the other bowlers earlier in the Easington innings.

For Castle, the win made it three from three, but they continue to be matched by Ryhope, who swamped Seaham Park by eight wickets with Ian White (6-23) doing the main damage as the home team crumbled for just 62.

Murton's game at Peterlee fell victim to the weather, but the home team's Glen Riddle (3-28) had caused a few jitters with Murton on 105-4 at the close, still 73 runs adrift.

Joe Dodd (6-42) and Dave Brown (4-41) set up Bill Quay's first win of the season as they bowled Washington out for 93, and Sean McKenna's six wickets paved the way for Shoaib Akhtar to crack an unbeaten 71 and enable Dawdon to defeat Silksworth by seven wickets.

There was a more familiar feel about the Warmseal Durham Senior League on Saturday, with Burnmoor and Hetton Lyons returning to winning ways, but it was surprise package Philadelphia who once again demonstrated their batting prowess to knock off a daunting target and take over as the new championship leaders.

Neil McKinney (127no) batted superbly for Seaham Harbour as he got the better of the seven-man Phili attack to lead his side to the apparent safety of 243-3. But Bobby

Steel, for the second week in a row, was imperious as he headed the home charge with 135 runs that took his team to a sevenwicket victory. Durham City put up a good fight at Burnmoor with Rob Flunder (71no) leading the run charts again, but Jimmy Daley made a nonsense of the target of 213 with a bruising, undefeated 121.

Eppleton were toppled by Hetton Lyons, who welcomed back Surappulige Malinga.

The Sri Lankan grabbed four wickets and restricted the visitors to 151, a total passed with six wickets to spare.

The other three games all ended in draws, with Chris Ellison being the day's other century-maker as his Boldon team were held by South Hetton.

With rain spoiling the big game between Shildon and Crook in the Readers Durham County League, Ushaw Moor took the opportunity to record their third straight victory and move into second spot in the table.

With two consecutive centuries behind him, Usman Arshad failed to make it three in a row at Etherley, falling for 'just' 57.

But with only 160 to defend, Arshad still proved the match-winner with a spell of 5- 20 that secured a 40-run victory for the Moor.

Langley Park got their season up and running as they recorded their first win.

Visitors Mainsforth were bowled out for 116, with Simon Huscroft (4-19) and Steven Gray (4-24) doing the damage, and there were few alarms in the successful run chase.

Evenwood had three wickets to spare against Hylton, while Esh Winning were doing just that against Tudhoe despite Ross Hodgson starring for the losers with 85no.

And Kiwi Sam Wells cracked an unbeaten 112 to lead Willington to an eight-wicket win over Brandon.