SRI Lankan Thara Gunarathne and local lad Michael Gough swept Hartlepool to an emphatic victory over Normanby Hall in the Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League Premier Division game at Park Drive on Saturday.

It took Pools just 22.3 overs to dismiss the Hall as Gunarathne claimed seven wickets for a mere 27 runs in 11 overs. Gough then took over with the bat, hitting 10 boundaries in an exquisite innings of 47 not out leading Pools to a nine-wickets win in only 16.1 overs.

South African Ryan Bailey was another newcomer in top form when Marske won by eight wickets at home to Marton. He claimed three cheap wickets and despite an unbeaten half century by Dan Conway, Marton's total of 152 was vulnerable.

Bailey then dominated Marske's reply, batting throughout for an unbeaten 67 which included 10 fours.

Clive Layfield, with six wickets and 40 runs and his nephew Michael (40) were prominent in Richmondshire's seven-wickets victory at Redcar where Shanoka Dissanayake ended unbeaten on 53. Mally Whitehead (48) and Andy Hassack (56) top-performed in the Redcar total of 173.

Bishop Auckland were the only other side to win and top the table. Despite reducing Darlington RA to a modest 124 for eight, which included a half century by David Eckels, they conceded five wickets and were grateful to Amol Mazumdar and Carl McGregor.

Blackhall are ahead in Division One following an eight-wickets win over Stokesley. Andy Weighell's 59 enabled the visitors to post 153 for nine but the target soon evaporated as Paul Moss (48) and Tony Booth, whose unbeaten 75 included 12 fours, put together a century partnership for the second wicket.

Champions South Northumberland suffered a second consecutive defeat in the Northern Rock ECB North East Regional Premier League. They were all out for only 110 at Sunderland for whom former Durham County and Norton player Marc Symington claimed four wickets before ending unbeaten on 54.

Stockton lost by one wicket to Gateshead Fell. Kevin Ward's unbeaten 63 enabled the home side to top the 200 mark but South African Martin Bekker did even better hitting a century in Fell's reply.

Norton had their last pair at the wicket at Chester le Street. Spinners Graeme Bridge and Chris Barr shared six wickets reducing them to 152 for nine after John Coxon (87) had top-performed in the Cestrians' total of 243 for eight.

Burnmoor and South Shields lead the way in the Foster's Durham Senior League.

Brett Pelser claimed seven wickets and Seaham Harbour were all out for just 132 but when Neville Gustard took six wickets, Burnmoor had to work hard for a three-wickets win.

Shields were at one stage 75 for five at Durham City but eventually won at a canter. Michael Dunn saw his team through to 189 despite Myers returning seven for 55 for Durham who were then skittled out for just 49 by the four-man Shields attack.

Willington are the only side in The Readers Durham County League to have won all four games. Their latest success came in the local derby with Crook Town who made a useful 191 for two including 81 not out by Hammad Tariq. Gary Cummings, with 13 boundaries in 77 and Darren Brown (65 not out) were then dominant.

Evenwood posted by far the highest score of the day when they were just two runs short of 300 from 45 overs against Etherley. Yjoty Yhdav and John Maughan both made half centuries before Etherley were all out for 191 which included an unbeaten 69 with six sixes and four boundaries by Richard Mangles.

David Lawlor (34) and Michael Robson with 44 led Esh Winning to a five-wickets win at home to Brandon and Ushaw Moor overtook Mainsforth's formidable total of 212 for six, of which Imran Jan contributed 78, with six wickets and 10 balls remaining. Imran Hullah was their top performer with the bat striking a six and eight fours out of 63.

Champions Castle Eden suffered an early defeat in The Surridge Sport Durham Coast League. Stephen Wright, Chris Pringle and Mark Foster all took three wickets reducing them to 153 before Silksworth edged home with three wickets remaining.

Murton came out on top at Seaham Park in the match of the day. Calvin Stephenson and Joe Dodd (5-38) restricted the runners-up to 133 before Alan Loscombe (31) and Stephenson (41 not out) produced most of the runs in a five-wickets success.