However, skipper Hallam was caught at the wicket by Youldon off Rushworth for 21 and then two more wickets quickly followed.

Dan Young (0) and Grant Lindsay (3) were also caught by the same combination.

Barry Stewart then progressed steadily with Iqbal until Akram had him caught for 16.

When Andrew Smith was bowled by Akram, Tynemouth were in deep trouble.

Iqbal went on to make a valuable 66 before Rushworth trapped him lbw but the remainder of the Tynemouth batting failed to contribute a sufficient score.

Only Ben Debnam (11) and John Callaghan (12) reached double figures. Tynemouth were 152 all out.

The Sunderland reply was immediately struggling as Lindsay and Callaghan attacked to good effect.

Watson was bowled by Lindsay for two, Walker was caught by Stewart off Callaghan for three and Thorpe had the same exit for only seven.

Lindsay then trapped Mustard lbw for only five and Applegarth was bowled by young David Hymers for a mere three.

Youdon was caught by Matthew Brown off Lindsay for seven.

Andrew Smith then trapped Rushworth for one and the excitement was really building.

Scott fell lbw to Hymers for 51 and Tynemouth were firm favourites at this stage.

However, a late rally by numbers nine and ten, Stephenson (28) and Robson 19 not out) saw Sunderland almost home.

When Stephenson was bowled by Lindsay, it took three not out from last man Akram to secure a one wicket victory for Sunderland.

• In the reverse fixture, Tynemouth's Seconds had to chase a target of 229-4 set by Sunderland Seconds.

Burton (79) and Chris Robson (102 not out) enjoyed a long stand of 158, picking up from 22-3.

The Tynemouth reply got off to the best of starts with Tony Lion (57) and Scott Thornton (66) before being run out at 142-2.

Sander contributed 18 and Greg Hollins made 12 with Perry batting up at number six making five.

Andy Lineham then made a sparkling 33 not out off 29 balls and Ian Stewart 16 off 16 balls as the pressure mounted.

However, Turner and Dunlop were dismissed cheaply and with just two balls remaining and the fielders all out on the boundary an unlikely ten runs were needed and one wicket remaining.

These were not obtained but Tynemouth held out, falling short of victory by seven runs to take 10 points from the game.

• In the semi-final of the Banks Bowl, the Second Team won through in a thriller at Stockton.

Batting first, Tynemouth lost seven overs to a delayed start because of rain.

Hymers made 55 before being run out and Tony Turner 41.

Ian Stewart then hit 26 not out with Josh Koen contributing 21 in the total of 185-7.

Stockton reached 77–1 in the 14th over. Phil Morse bowled 8 overs (1-27) and Steve Mordue eight overs (1-21) as the brakes were eventually applied by Tynemouth.

With the score on 135-4 Tony Lion took 3–29 as Stockton lost six wickets for 28 runs in a superb period of play for Tynemouth. Stockton were dismissed 14 runs short.

• Tynemouth Thirds, who are giving a good account of themselves since moving up into the A1 Division of the Northumberland league this season, hosted Monkseaton.

Paul Coates lost the toss and was invited to bat first. Phil Morse and Mark Davison opened. Morse responded in typical fashion and raced to 30 before being caught in the deep off Hewitt with the score on 32.

Davison was then bowled soon afterwards for two by the same bowler. Jon Wilson was lbw to Steve Cooper for six before Derek Whiteman and Jon Hymers moved the score from 41 off 10 overs to 73 off 20.

Hymers was then run out for 20 and Whiteman caught off Cooper for 27.

Peter Davison was Cooper's third victim, bowled for two.

John Harrison was bowled for seven, skipper Coates for five and the promoted Ed Snelders for a duck.

A final flurry for Tynemouth from Scott Graham (5) and Don Catley, left stranded on eight not out, secured a second batting point but only 129 all out.

In reply, Snelders bowled J Armstrong for a duck. At the other end Morse trapped Taylor lbw and Monkseaton were struggling.

At the 20 overs mark they had 47 on the board. Bob Zanetti and Beever progressed in a long stand until the returning Snelders broke up the pair by enticing a catch from Zanetti (23) which Morse snapped up.

Craig Faulkner joined the diminutive Beever and this pairing then continued to frustrate Tynemouth until Catley trapped Faulkner lbw for 35 to ensure at least a second bowling point.

Beever was left on 41 not out as Paul Marks came in and hit the winning runs with a quick 19 and victory by six wickets.