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BILLINGHAM Synthonia caused the shock of the season, when they beat leaders and reigning champions Middlesbrough in yesterday’s programme.

Winless in 12, Synners looked set for another loss at the halfway stage yesterday afternoon, bowled out for just 112, with their top scorer making 19.

Yet in response, Boro staggered from 2 for 3, to 26 for 5 and 50 for 6 and 80 all out.

Brett Roberts staged a brief fightback with 29 but Martin Cull (18 overs 4 for 22), Craig Symington (9 overs, 3 for 31) and Nisal Randika (9.4 overs, 3 for 19) were not to be denied as the visitors collapsed to a 32-run defeat.

With Boro’s demise, Marton’s 56-run victory over Thornaby sent them to the top of the table last night.

Ex-Boro player Jonny Spillane led Marton’s run scorers with 63, including eight fours, and Lee Hodgson made 50 as Marton were restricted to 167 for 8 in their 50 overs, Khurram Shehzad taking 4 for 43 in 16 overs, and Leigh Beaumont bowling the full 25 to end with 3 for 63.

But Thornaby were never in the hunt with only Shehzad (40) coping as Hodgson and Mohammed Zahid claimed three apiece to leave the visitors 111 all out in 42 overs.

Guisborough moved into second place as they won a low scoring encounter at Normanby Hall inspired by skipper Stu Mackay who drained the life from Hall by grabbing 6 for 10 in 8 overs to leave them with just 121.

Tariq Aziz controlled the run chase with 54 in 113 balls, the Priorymen easing home by three wickets in the 47th over.

Great Ayton’s Pakistani star Riaz Afridi smashed five sixes and three fours in a 30 ball 54 at Markse, sharing in a partnership of 79 with Chris Batchelor who crashed through the 600 league run barrier with a glorious 126 from 130 balls.

The wicket taking duo of Afridi (4 for 68) and Ian West (3 for 47) had the hosts clinging on at 185 for 9, 96 runs shy of Ayton’s mammoth total.

Rain decimated Saturday’s programme with all but two of the seven games abandoned without a first innings being completed.

But amid the gloom there was good news for Northallerton who turned their backs on any relegation worries by enjoying their best day of the season against Billingham Synthonia.

Despite a worrying start, when they lost their first two wickets for just 34 runs, Rashmi Parida and Darren Pavan shared in a dazzling stand of 165 which took them to 286-5, their highest of the season.

Parida made an unbeaten 138 with 13 fours and two sixes from 137 balls – his second hundred of the season – while Pavan made 75 from 104 balls with ten boundaries.

Despite a stand of 77 between Nisal Randika (37) and Keith Hewson (29) the Synners’ reply of 138-6 from 40 overs wasn’t enough. Richard Bentley (4-43 from 14 overs with six maidens) caused the Synners most problems.

Hartlepool and Guisborough, two of the championship hopefuls, regretted the rain showers turning into downpours more than most.

Pool restricted Richmondshire to 159 and were just preparing for a 20 over thrash to get the 118 needed when the heavens opened.

Shani Dissanayake (55 from 68 balls ) and Mike Layfield (40) put the Dalesmen in a strong position before they lost their last five wickets for 11 runs with Marc Symington (6-92) and Janaka Guneratne (3-44) hitting form. Pool reached 42-1 in eight overs.