Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League, Premier Division: Northallerton's bandwagon rolled to a halt at Blackhall on Saturday where Mohamed Fazal and John Darby carved out their side's first win of the season.

Fazal's pace restricted the visitors to 161 before Darby's skilful batting led the Colliers' winning reply.

Fazal claimed six for 67 runs and Richard Watts, in the twilight of his career, returned 3-56 despite the efforts of Doug Mulholland (43) and Albert Aurelius with 37. Darby then took over and victory was in sight when he was bowled by Jonathan Barnes for 73. David Mole carried on the good work with an unbeaten 30.

Bishop Auckland are second following an interesting game with Richmondshire at Kingsway. The target of 144 set by the visitors looked attainable, but Shanoka Dissanayake produced a man of the match performance and at stumps Bishops were eight runs short of victory but with their last pair at the wicket.

Adam Smith (34) and Dissanayake, whose 42 included six fours and came off 67 balls, provided most of the runs in the Richmond total of 143-8.

Phil Timmens bowled unchanged and in 25 overs, 11 of them maidens, claimed six of the eight wickets to fall for 57 runs.

There was a double blow for Bishops when they replied. Richard Hawthorne and Darren Blenkiron, their prolific scoring openers were both bowled by Dissanayake and although Amul Muzumdar raised hopes making 39, the pendulum swung back to Richmond when he became a victim of Dissanayake.

Timmens added a crucial 27 but Dissanayake was at his best and in 25 overs returned seven for 50.

Saltburn moved into third on the back of a six-wicket victory at home to Darlington. After conceding the wickets of their first four batsmen for a combined total of 33, Darlington's innings was rescued by Gary Moody, with six boundaries in an unbeaten 77, and Simon Whitehead (33).

Tim Hood bowled an economical 12 overs returning 3-42 for Saltburn, who also struggled early on as Phil Raine picked up four wickets. John Windows and Umer Rashid then took control.

Windows struck ten fours in carrying his bat for 68 and Rashid hit a six and eight boundaries in an unbeaten 58 as the pair formed an unbroken century partnership for the fifth wicket. Raine ended with 4-46 from 12.1 overs, including four maidens.

Guisborough, champions in each of the last three seasons, have still won only once following their latest draw, this time with Marske.

Richard Dunn was in excellent form recording three sixes and 11 fours before being stumped on 97. Imran Jan (55) and Paul Goodchild (32) carried on the good work so that Guisborough reached 227-7 in their 50 overs.

Although Marske rarely threatened, they were never in danger of losing as Neil Coverdale hit 12 boundaries out of 72 and Phil Walker contributed 32 to a total of 180-5.

Darlington RA lost by four wickets at Redcar. Set a target of 213 they were indebted to Martin Hood for his unbeaten 89 and to Jason Boardman who carried his bat for 34 after claiming three wickets with his spinners.

Paul Freary (59), Wilden Cornwall (33) and Martin Ferguson (41) propelled RA to 212-6 from their 50 overs.

The game between Middlesbrough and Normanby Hall at Acklam Park was evenly poised when time was called. Boro, needing 205, were 181-8 which included 60 by Birkett.

Mohamed Zahid captured four for 48 after adding a useful 33 to the Hall total of 204 all out. Stephen McNicholas produced a good innings which earned him 88 and David Cross added 45 for the visitors. Brenton Parchment returned the excellent figures of 5-36 in the Boro attack.

There were runs down the order when Hartlepool posted 227-8 against Great Ayton at Park Drive. Top performer was John Cannon with 61 and in reply, Ayton were 171-6 when their overs expired. John Doyle (47), David Grainge (35) and Gavin Mudd (33) all showed form. Ashley Day took five of the six wickets to go down for just 42 runs.