Richmondshire increased their lead at the top of the Darlington Building Society NYSD ECB Premier League, to 11 points despite not playing on Saturday, as their game was abandoned at home to Thornaby.

Marton’s match against Middlesbrough got the go ahead, the home side won the toss and asked the visitors to bat. Openers Nick Kwant and Yash Vagadia (31), put on 74 for the first wicket. However, the home side then took four quick wickets to reduce them to 119-5, as Faizan Hussain claimed (3-51).

Kwant went on to score 94 not out from 124 balls, which included seven fours and three sixes, in 163-7 from their 42 allocated overs.

The home side lost both openers quickly, as Harry Williams removed Jonathan Spillane and Lee Hodgson, while Aamer Sajjad went to Alfie Taylor-Clarke, as they slumped to 31-3.

At 56-5, they were in trouble, but Chris Simpson held out for 35 off 97 balls and then Boro skipper Leigh Beaumont turned the screw with 4-15, but the home side clung on for the draw at 90-9 and are now 11 points behind the leaders, with seven games left.

The only other game to have some play was at Windy Hill Lane, as third-placed Marske gained six points on the Dalesmen, from their match against Great Ayton.

Ryan Gibson smashed 136 runs from 99 balls, which included 17 fours and three sixes, alongside Nauman Anwar, who scored 56 from 69 balls, as they put on 137 for the first wicket.

That helped an early declaration, despite Ishwar Pandey claiming 4-48 with the ball, as skipper Johnathon Pickard called them in on 240-5, from just 36 overs.

Ayton began with Samuel Moylan making 33 not out, as Jamie Hood jnr (2-25) claimed the early wickets of Josh Chisholm and Ishwar Pandey, but the rains returned and they were on 50-2, when play had to be abandoned.

All other games were abandoned without a ball being bowled.

The only Dukes ECB North East Premier League game to survive was at Roseworth Terrace where leaders South North hosted third placed Tynemouth. The game was reduced to 29/25 overs, and the visitors won the toss asking the champions to bat first.

Finn Lonnberg struck three early blows, removing Chris Hewison, John Harbottle and Sean Tindale cheaply and on 7-3, it wasn’t the best start for the home side. However, Simon Birtwisle scored 37 and Oliver McGee made 54 not out, in a fourth wicket stand of 76 runs. Skipper Adam Cragg then made a quick-fire 38 not out from 18 balls, to steer his to 152-5 declared, from 27 overs.

The visitors had 27 overs to make their target, and started well as Matthew Brown made 50 not out and Nick Armstrong 69 not out, as they put on 123 runs without loss from 21 overs, but the rains came back again, and the match abandoned.

In the Readers Durham Cricket League, Whiteleas struggling to avoid relegation, entertained Durham City in the only game to survive. The visitors scored a healthy 206-7, thanks to Cameron Fyfe scoring 76 and Izaak Beck who made a 91, as Usman Arshad claimed 4-18 with the ball. Leas were on 64-3, when the match had to be abandoned.

In Division Two, Evenwood were at Hylton as the home side benefitted, with the visitors losing by 97 runs. Batting first the home side scored 151-5 from their reduced allocation of 37 overs. Although they lost early wickets, Marlon Black made a crucial 58, with good efforts from Anthony Brown (29 not out) and Jon Stokoe (23 not out).

The visitors started badly and never recovered. Lewis Brown removed both openers taking 3-18 along the way, then Tom Nixon took an admirable 4-6, with Black taking 2-5 with the ball, in a final total of just 54 from 25.1 overs.

Hylton are 20 points ahead of third-placed Brandon and 18 points behind leaders Dawdon, and still remain unbeaten.