Jet-lagged Shani Dissanayake couldn't stop the decline of his new team Guisborough when he made his delayed return to the league against former team-mates at Richmond, the club where he played for 12 years.

Only able to score ten runs and take a single wicket, Dissanayake was on the wrong end of a further bashing for the Priorymen who lost by 108 runs following a declaration by their high-flying opponents who then bowled them out for a paltry 79 in a shortened match.

Richmond's overall batting and bowling strengths were too much for Guisborough, and it was no surprise that the Dalesmen reached 187 for four in 36 overs with Andrew Fleming making an unbeaten 76, including seven fours, and the trio of Rob Carr (38), Mattie Cowling (36 not out) and Gary Pratt (35) enjoying his company.

Stu Mackay took three of the four wickets, but Richmond's Toby Bulcock had more to celebrate as he won the match with a six-wicket haul. With Guisborough dismissed for 79, his best return of the season cost him just 13 runs with Sam Wood (2-15) sharing the bowling joy. By comparison, Shani's spell against more rampant batsmen cost him 56 runs.

Marske, like Richmond, enjoyed their fourth win in six games but, at the same time, halted the title ambitions of Barnard Castle who lost for the first time this season.

Barney recovered from the loss of six of their batsmen for less than a hundred to finish with a challenging 202-9, an unbeaten 59 from 41 balls for Josh Bousfield taking a little of the shine from the bowling of Jonathan Pickard (4-62) and Josh Carroll (3-42).

But the Seasiders' skipper, Lee Hodgson, was again in devastating form with the bat, hitting his third century in five knocks, including his second in successive weeks.

The undefeated 102 came from 134 balls with ten fours and three even bigger hits. Saeed Bin Nasir, who made 41 from 81 balls, shared a stand worth 107 but a whirlwind 37 from Chris Lince (four fours, two sixes, 25 balls) was a major contributor at a key stage. Marske won by seven wickets with 21 balls to spare in a game reduced in overs by heavy rain just after the start.

Darlington were also in championship form when they took advantage of a long Stokesley batting tail, taking the last six wickets for 16 runs to win by 63 runs. Connor Whitelock (5-22) had his best return with Dale Marshall (2-25) and Liam Coates (2-37) chipping in.

Former Quakers’ professional Doug Mulholland (4-35) couldn't prevent Mohammed Saad making his second best score, an 111-ball 72 with 42 in boundaries, and Stokesley collapsed after Andrew Weighell was dismissed for 41 on 76 for 3. James Beaumont's defiant 32 runs was next best, but they were all out for 114.

Great Ayton moved into the top three with a 15-point return from their draw at Normanby Hall where the game suffered a long delay for heavy rain after just seven balls had been bowled. Tea was taken early to reduce lost playing time, but with 25 overs lopped off the match Ayton's declaration at 200 for 7 meant the home side were limited to 37 overs in reply in which they totalled 101-4. Wally Ghauri (71) was Ayton's top scorer while newcomer, Francois Kroukamp, a South African amateur, had his best day since he arrived with four wickets and steady run-making.

Billingham Synthonia suffered a disastrous batting display when they entertained Middlesbrough on a lively pitch at the former ICI ground. James Lowe (5-31) and Steve Reeves (4-17) bowled them out for just 58 in 25.2 overs with nine catches taken by superb fielding. Lowe, the Boro skipper, went on to top score with 29 as his side won by seven wickets in 16 overs.

Norton enjoyed a surprise victory at Hartlepool's Park Drive where partnerships involving Marc Symington (59 not out), Adam Fenby (39) and Jonny Kean (22 not out) took them to a six-wicket success. Mark Binks (7-40) exploited Pool's batting weaknesses after Neil Coverdale (57) and Alan Tebbett (36 not out) put them in a strong position on 133-3. They lost the last six wickets for just 29 runs as Binks struck.