Kimblesworth almost there (From Durham Times)

Kimblesworth almost there

10:35am Monday 9th August 2010 in Match Reports

KIMBLESWORTH can put the champagne on ice as they prepare for their third successive championship win in the Durham County League, writes Chris West.

With their 15th victory from 17 games they are 46 points ahead of Esh Winning, who will be happy to fight off Evenwood for the runners-up prize rather than expect Kimblesworth to slip up in the final five games.

The top three all won, the leaders at Langley Park, who were bowled out for 97, Esh at Mainsforth who were skittled for the same score, and Evenwood, who hosted Willington and won by 70 runs.

Stephen Meek (5-39) inspired Kimblesworth, Yasim Murtaza (93) and Mark Davison (5-25) took star rating for Esh Winning, and Neil Teesdale did the business with 63 for Evenwood.

Boldon continued to fight for the title in the Durham Senior League, but they lost three points of their lead over Felling, which is now down to two.

Boldon’s Phil Shakespeare (4-62) helped restrict South Hetton to 141-9 but Chris Ellison (33no) played for safety as the leaders responded with 80-4.

Felling (177-5) were held up by Norton (155-8) despite four more wickets for Ross Loiacono. Jimmy Daley hit another century – 128 not out against Castle Eden – but it didn’t win the match as Castle clung to a draw with their last pair at the crease.

Bill Quay kept their Durham Coast League hopes alive by pulling back points from the leaders Boldon CA with a narrow win over Washington.

Boldon now lead by 22 points, after a draw with Seaham Park.

They had to hang on for a draw with nine wickets down and well short of the target.

Tommy Nixon, with an unbeaten 20, saved the day when the leaders reached 139-9 in reply to Seaham’s 167-6 declared.

In the NTSL Ian Pattison kept Swalwell’s hopes high of winning the championship by hitting a swashbuckling 167 from 139 balls against Percy Main.

He hit 20 fours and three sixes and shared in a stand of 167 as his side won by an impressive 108 runs.

Shotley Bridge stayed second, 26 points adrift, while Lintz and Tynedale were featured in a rare finish – sharing the points in a tie that keeps the home team’s survival hopes burning.