Darlington Building Society NYSD ECB – Premier League

IN the Darlington Building Society NYSD ECB Premier League, leaders Richmondshire won again and had opener Tom Dowson to thank, as he top scored with 46, as they batted first against Middlesbrough.

Gary Pratt added 41 from 104 balls, as they found it slow going against James Lowe, as he claimed 3-24 from his 15 overs. They eventually got up to 203-6, as Ajay Mandal added an unbeaten and crucial 41 runs.

Boro then slumped to 29-4 and 42-7 and eventually 61 all out, as Mandal worked his magic with the ball, taking a match winning 5-15 from 11.2 overs, to win the game by 142 runs, but more importantly take the 25 points for the victory and now lead the table by 26 points, with four games left.

In another exciting game (the previous corresponding fixture in May, also went to the last over of the game) between Marton and title chasing Barnard Castle, the match went into the 100th over yet again. The home side chose to bat first and totalled 192-7. Lee Hodgson scored 32, Tom Miller 39 and Johnathon Pickard 39, with Karl Carver bowling well taking 4-26.

Barney then stuttered to 39-3, as Johnathon Pickard started well with 3-24 and Tom Hustwitt removed the professional and Karl Carver to put them on 59-5. However, Richard Borrowdale (30) and Finn Usher (58) put on 53 runs for the sixth wicket, to get them to the last over, needing nine to win with two wickets in hand.

Enter Robert West, who hit two, two, then four, then another four with just one ball to spare in the game, to get them over the line on 196-8, and keep in touch with the Dalesmen.

Hartlepool’s title ambitions took a nasty turn, as they were beaten at home by ten wickets at the hands of visitors Stokesley, who ripped their batting to shreds. They slumped to just 56 all out at Park Drive, as paceman Joe Marsay blew away them away with 6-33, backed up by skipper Andrew Weighell who claimed 4-23.

Weighell with the bat, then scored a rapid 39 from 25 balls, as his team wasted no time in getting the required runs, finishing on 58-0.

Marske decided to bat first in this crucial relegation encounter, and started well against Thornaby. Openers Jamie Hood jnr (37) and Adam Hickey (32) put on 61 runs for the first wicket, but they then stuttered to 101-4, as Husnain Bukhari returned impressive figures of 6-59 However, the Seasiders got themselves up to a total of 217-9, thanks to Jack English scoring 31 not out.

Thornaby started well in their innings, as John Watson made 32, Paul Allen 90 not out and Lewis Harper 45, as they inched closer to their target, needing eight runs to win from the last over. Allen then hit a four to win the game with two balls to spare, and grab 20 vital points in the relegation battle, while the home side are now 35 points adrift from safety.

Billingham Synthonia are up to fifth and won by a mammoth 238 runs, after they were asked to bat first against struggling Normanby Hall. Tayyab Tahir scored a stupendous 226 from 126 balls, which included 21 fours and 15 sixes, alongside Elliott Holmes 62. They both put on 229 runs together for the third wicket, as they ended up on 387-5.

The home side then lost regular wickets, and were on 92-5 at one stage and with Mike Yuill claiming 3-39 and Martin Cull also took 3-39, as they ended up all out for 149, and are still in lots of trouble in the relegation mire.

Great Ayton and Saltburn produced an exciting match, which ended on a positive note for the home side. Ayton posted 215-7 from their 50 overs, while the visitors had all options open to them, going into the final ball of the match, but they finished on 211-9 and claimed the losing draw, while Ayton are now just above the relegation zone on average points.

Darlington Building Society NYSD ECB – Division One

STOCKTON still lead the way at the top by 26 points, but Darlington retained the second promotion spot, with a win at home to Wolviston. The visitors scored 170 all out, which the Quakers knocked off for the loss of six wickets and claimed a valuable 20 points.

Darlington RA are third and ten points behind their local neighbours, but have played a game more. They had a winning draw at Guisborough and posted a healthy 255-6. Joe Kennedy scored 59, Liam Dixon 45 and Carl McGregor hammered 87. The Priorymen then stood firm, as Gary Wright made 56 and Will Cowey 45, in their final total of 202-7.