Darlington Building Society NYSD ECB – Premier League

IN the Darlington Building Society NYSD ECB Premier League, Great Ayton, looking to survive relegation this season, asked visiting Middlesbrough to bat first at Leven Park. Boro made a slow start against tight bowling, however, James Lowe scored an excellent 102 from 146 balls, which included ten fours and two sixes, while Cole Pearce added 51, in a final total of 210-6.

Ayton, desperate for a win to push themselves out of the bottom two places, then had to score a revised total of 170 to win, and responded with opener Chris Batchelor scoring 55 from 105 balls, but the middle order then collapsed, as they lost three wickets for just 15 runs, with Harry Williams snapping up 3-48.

However, Winstone Masakadza then fired 33 not out from 21 balls, to reach their target on 170-7, to push them out of the bottom two on games won.

Thornaby dropped into the bottom two, as their game at Normanby Hall was abandoned, due to the rain at the interval. The home side totalled 124 all out, with Lewis Harper taking 3-35 and Dale Metcalfe 3-11, doing the damage with the ball.

Marske are still bottom, as Stokesley were in good form with the bat. Jonny Weighell made 65 and Shanuka Vithanawasam an excellent 125 not out from 109 balls, which included 15 fours, as they put on 122 runs for the second wicket and they eventually ended up on 260-7, as skipper Chris Nicholls bagged 3-57. The match was then abandoned, due to the rain at the interval.

Richmondshire won the big game at the top, on DLM against Hartlepool. The home side were asked to bat first. Skipper Rob Carr contributed with 76, alongside Owen Kelly who made 32, as they scored 218-9, with Paul Braithwaite and Neil Whitworth sharing six wickets.

Pools then lost early wickets and were 28-3 at one stage, but Gareth Shaw made 49 and Jake Richardson 39 not out, as they ended up on 128-6, and are now 29 points behind the Dalesmen, with only six games remaining.

Barnard Castle are second, after they won the toss and decided to bat first, at home to Saltburn. Skipper James Quinn made 94 from 105 balls, which included eight fours and for sixes and James Clarkson (93no), as they put on 155 runs together for the second wicket. Samarth Seth added 51 and Richard Borrowdale 31, in a huge score of 284-4.

The Seasiders then slumped to 25-4, as Robert Dixon removed the top order, claiming 5-12. However, Lachlan Kennedy dug in for 47 runs and Jacob Midgley 44, but once they were out, courtesy of Finn Usher (3-35), they ended on 137-8 and lost on the DLM.

Marton are now 45 points behind the leaders, as their game suffered due to the weather. They scored 256-8 at home to Billingham Synthonia, thanks to in-form Liam Coates who made 65 and Ben Hutchinson (46), as they scored 105 runs for the second wicket. Jonathan Spillane added a breezy 41, which included eight fours, while Thomas Wing claimed 3-48 and JP Meade 3-73. However, the game was then abandoned, due to the rain.

Darlington Building Society NYSD ECB – Division One

Darlington had a good day at the office, as they beat Great Ayton by 138 runs and their promotion rivals all dropped points due to the weather.

They posted 202 all out, with Nathan Wright making 54 and Andrew Peacock a useful 69 runs late on, while John Russell claimed 5-57 and Charlie Doyle 3-72. Ayton were then skittled for 64 runs, as Grant Sowerby claimed 4-3 and claim the 25 points.

Darlington RA were at home to leaders Stockton, who posted 170-6 declared, thanks to Abhinav Ramisetty, who top scored with 45 runs, while Carl McGregor and Reece Thompson shared six wickets. However, the rain intervened and the match had to be abandoned.