A SECOND win in eight days gave rise to hope of salvation for Gateshead Fell who had previously seemed doomed to almost certain relegation, whilst at the other end of the table a first defeat of the summer saw Chester-le-Street deposed as league leaders.

The Fell victory was by the breathless margin of two runs in an encounter containing just 152 in all, Gateshead seemingly out of the contest by the interval after being rolled over for 77, but then rising from the rubble to destroy Benwell Hill for 75.

There was no doubting the hero, Barry McCarthy proving virtually unplayable in a 13.4 over spell in which he claimed 7-11, the last two being the most crucial as Hill looked to be on the brink of salvaging their pride when clawing their way from 58-8 to 73-8 before McCarthy struck the final fatal blows. Hill have now fallen for 29, 60 and 75 in their last three matches.

Given Gateshead’s performance Hetton Lyons’ win over fellow strugglers Tynemouth proved especially valuable as it kept Fell at arm’s length.

It was another low scoring affair with runs at a premium as bowlers made the most of the conditions presented by the overnight thunderstorms, Tynemouth bundled out for 136 in 46.1 overs, and then Lyons struggling over the winning line with just two wickets standing as Finn Lonnberg (4-45) and Tahir Khan (3-37) made them fight every inch of the way. Number four Lal Kumar’s unbeaten 26 proved pivotal as wickets tumbled.

Up at the summit Chester-le-Street were unable to recover from a major batting collapse which enabled hosts Whitburn to gain one of their best ever victories since their elevation to the top flight at the end of 2013.

Seemingly on their way to another decent total when reaching 145-2, the Cestrians lost their last eight wickets for 31, and their final five for a meagre 7, Aussie Scott Condy (5-38) the man wiping out the tail after Ian Elliot (4-33) had given him the opportunity to do so. With 176 to defend Chester bit back through Quentin Hughes (5-46), but a last wicket stand of 11 between Mark Elliott and Ian Elliot eased Whitburn to a nerve tingling one wicket win after they had suffered their own collapse when going from 139-3 to 151-8.

Street’s defeat enabled champions South North to reclaim top spot for the first time since winning the title, the Bulls managing to bowl out Durham Academy for 159 with just six balls remaining of a match reduced to an overall 91 overs after a late start. Newly married Jonnie Wightman was the star, bagging 5-22 to complement Lee Crozier’s five wicket haul as the youngsters fell 27 runs short.

There are new leaders in the First Division. With Washington’s home game against Willington cast adrift by a waterlogged ground, Eppleton went top after defeating South Hetton in another match where the start was delayed as water was mopped up.

After losing the toss bottom club Hetton were given 38 overs at the crease and scrambled up to 145-9 in that time, and with 33 overs to chase down the modest target the home team succeeded with 13 balls to spare courtesy of the prolific Kyle Davis, who cracked seven fours and two sixes in a 92-ball unbeaten 83 that also took him past the 1,000 run milestone in all matches.