Darlington Building Society NYSD ECB Premier League

DARLINGTON had to fight hard for a draw against Marske in the end, though at one stage of the game they were well on top, having the Seasiders at 116-7, thanks to Dale Marshall taking 3-40 and two wickets apiece for Jonny Barnes and Muhammed Saad.

Marske eventually got their score up to 173 all out, with skipper Lee Hodgson top scoring with 46 and wicket-keeper Chris Veazey down the order (42no), from 54 balls, with 5 fours, helped them recover somewhat.

Darlington then lost three wickets for just 57 runs, until skipper Liam Coates came in and steadied the ship with 36, in a total of 144-8. Jonathan Pickard was the pick of the bowling, taking 3-28. Benjamin Van Rensburg and Lee Hodgson each took two wickets, but the visitors could not force the win.

Barnard Castle have now lost two in a row, after a heavy defeat at Middlesbrough, who now go top of the league, after losing by 106 runs, at Acklam Park.

The home side batted first, with opener and skipper James Lowe making 38 and although four of their top order batsmen reached the twenties and couldn’t push on, they ended on a healthy 207-8, with Jack Robinson returning 3-41 off eleven overs.

In reply, Leigh Beaumont (4-28) ripped through the early order to reduce Barney to 101 all out, with Steven Reeves returning 3-29. Only Jack Robinson and Simon Tennant managed to get into the twenties, both scoring 23.

Richmondshire had a narrow, but first win of the season by two wickets, in a closely fought game at the SCG, Stokesley. The Dalesmen won the toss and asked them to bat first, with skipper Andrew Weighell scoring 54, putting on a 78 run partnership with Robert Foreman (27).

Craig Marshall then took a brilliant 6-30 and Alston Bobb supported him with 3-24, they were reduced to 146 all out. Richmondshire themselves, were in trouble at 57-4, with Sam Stephens (3-33), ripping out three of the top four batsman, but Sam Winter with 32 not out, off 72 balls, guided his team home for the win, despite Andrew Weighell also taking 3-32.

Great Ayton moved into second place, when they collected 17 points in a winning draw, against Seaton Carew. Ayton amassed 284-5 declared, with opener Chris Batchelor scoring an excellent unbeaten 123 not out. Pitigala Jeewantha added 57, with Stephen Pennock belting 45, near the end.

Seaton Carew however, really dug in and managed to bat out the 52 overs left in the game, to claim a losing draw, thanks to Jack Turnbull’s 41 and 63 not out from David Braithwaite batting at number eight, to reach 197-8, despite pace bowler Joe Marsay taking 3-45.

Marton are into third position in the league, after beating Guisborough at home, by a huge margin of 84 runs. Asked to bat first, Marton made 175-7, with in-form batsman Jonny Spillane hitting 53 and professional Shanuka Dissanayake took 4-37, with the ball.

Marton’s Muhammed Zahid, then set about the Priorymen, taking 4-19, to take his tally of wickets, to 17 for the season already. Skipper Alex Wardell ripped through the middle order, with 3-17, to record a comprehensive win.

Norton are already 12 points adrift at the bottom and 30 points from safety, when they lost again, their fourth in a row, this time by a massive 153 runs, at home to Hartlepool. Professional Harsha Vithana scored an excellent century with 102 not out off 79 balls, including 15 fours, in their huge total of 270-7, with openers Neil Coverdale (44) and John Watson (48), adding to the total.

Mark Binks with 3-74 and Craig Symington 3-79, did their best with the ball, but when Norton batted, they collapsed to 117 all out, with opening bowler Doug Mulholland taking 4-24 and James Ward 3-30. Craig Symington top scored with 42 and skipper David Cross made 37 not out, but it was all in vain.