The Guisborough bandwagon rolls on and they extended their lead by a further 11 points when they defeated Thornaby while Saltburn could only draw at Blackhall.

When David Towse took four wickets for just 29 runs in another hugely-economical performance and Chris Murray, introduced as third-change, claimed four wickets for a miserly five runs from the 4.4 overs he sent down, the Thornaby total of 110 was meat and drink to the home side. Despite losing Graham Shaw early, the leaders made no mistake and Saul Clifford carried his bat for 54 in partnership with Richard Dunn (43).

Victory was in sight before they were parted and not another wicket was conceded.

Saltburn were on the brink of defeat at Blackhall with their last pair at the wicket.

Faced with a target of 187 they appeared to have overcome the loss of three cheap wickets when Adil Ditta (29) and Mauhtashim Rashid (50) were together but when the partnership was broken, it was the Collierymen who were in the ascendancy.

Ben Usher, with 3-46 and Gavin Watts, whose four wickets were taken for 40 runs, were the bowlers who almost snatched victory for Blackhall.

Batting first, the home side posted 186-8 from their 50 overs with Imran Jan making 40 and Graham Bell 33.

Mauhtashim Rashid sent down 24 overs in the Seasiders' attack for figures of 5-95 and Ditta's ten overs earned him 3-32.

Darlington had the better of RA in the local derby at Brinkburn Road where they bowled out the home side for just 121 as Hanif ur Rehman and Duncan Johnson each took three wickets.

Naroof Khan caused a few problems to the visitors claiming three wickets but when Rehman and Mark Jobling both contributed 25, victory was achieved for the loss of just five wickets.

Redcar maintained their fourth-from-top position with an eight-wicket victory against Wolviston who were back in the pavilion for only 106 as Dulip Samaraweera returned 5-40 in 15 overs. Martin Hood carried his bat for 56, with no fewer than ten boundaries and Andy Wetherall contributed an unbeaten 29 to the Redcar innings.

Marske won comfortably at Richmondshire who also found runmaking difficult as they realised just 108. Mohamed Fazal and Stuart McKay both took four wickets and when Adam Patterson, with an unbeaten 56 and Neil Coverdale, who was on 50 when run out, opened Marske's reply, there was no way back for Richmond.

Middlesbrough won a high-scoring game against Hartlepool at Park Drive. Steve Chapman stroked eight fours in another fine innings which earned him 72 runs and John Cannon contributed 40 to a total of 193-6. Lee Beaumont claimed three of the wickets for 38 runs in 11 overs.

Tim McIntosh and James Lowe were dominant, opening Boro's reply.

They laid the foundations for a six-wickets success with a century partnership.

Lowe departed after striking one six and seven fours in 54 and McIntosh had 15 boundaries adding 81 to the matchwinning response.

The game between Northallerton and Normanby Hall was at an interesting stage when time was called.

Jonathan Barnes finished unbeaten on 74 and captain Ian Gill contributed 60 when the home side's total edged past the 200 mark for five wickets, three of them falling to Mohamed Zahid for 67 runs in an unbroken spell of 25 overs.

Zahid then became prominent for the Hall and he held the innings together scoring 62 out of the eventual total of 165-7. Richard Chandler and Barnes each claimed three wickets.