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THE weather intervened on Saturday, allowing Richmondshire to gain vital points on leaders Hartlepool, who were unfortunately rained off.

They welcomed Great Ayton to Hurgill Road and although they lost early wickets, as Doug Mulholland claimed 3-51 to reduce the hosts to 84-6, the Dalesmen then made an interesting and perhaps brave declaration at 127-9, after 27.2 overs.

Ayton, in reply, collapsed to 39-6 justifying the declaration made, and were all out for a paltry 68 runs, as Craig Marshall took a brilliant 6-22 to win the match for his side by 59 runs and they now hold a two-point advantage at the top, while Ayton remain bottom and 23 points from safety.

Marton had an exciting win in the last over at Marske, allowing them to gain ground and move into third place in the title race. The Seasiders were 62-2 when the rain came after opener Jozef Wing had made 40.

On resumption, Adam Hickey then scored an excellent 112 not out from 87 balls, which included 13 fours and four sixes and Sam Berry (44), as they put on 77 runs together, for the third wicket. They totalled 230-9 in the end, with Faizan Hussain claiming 3-53 and Alex Wardell 3-45.

The visitors were then set a revised total of 190 to win from 33 overs (DLM), but were 11-2 in reply early on. However, Liam Coates scored 42 and Jonathan Spillane then scored a quite brilliant 99 not out from 74 balls, which included nine fours and five sixes, to see his side home on 190-4 with just four balls to spare.

Middlesbrough took on Billingham Synthonia at Acklam Park and the visitors batted first. They totalled 152 all out, thanks to some late order batting, as Thomas Harper (23) and Elliott Holmes (43) put on 55 runs together for the sixth wicket after been 73-5. Matthew Bell was the pick of the bowling for Boro, as he claimed 4-33.

Boro were then set a reduced target of 94 runs in 21 overs (DLM). They got to 42-3 and 59-6, and were then all out for 82, as Thomas Wing struck early blows, alongside Ben Phillips who claimed 3-24 and Mike Yuill 4-20, to hand Synners an 11-run win and help leapfrog their opponents into sixth place.

The big game to avoid relegation ended in an exciting draw, as Normanby Hall were asked to bat first at Stokesley. Opener Jordan Leech scored 31, Waleed Rehman 43, Alfie Street 30 and Usman Arshad hit 32, for a total of 200 all out, while Joe Marsay (4-43) made early inroads to the batting and the tail.

Stokesley then started positively, as openers Jonny Weighell hit 29 and Robert Foreman 27. Professional Shanuka Vithanawasam fired 64 from 69 balls and Andrew Weighell added 45 from 37 balls, but the game ended in an exciting draw, with the home side needing 12 runs to win off the final over, they managed only eight and finished just short on 197-7.