Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League Premier Division: Saltburn are still out in front after securing a comfortable victory over Darlington at Feethams - the visitors having almost three overs to spare when they claimed the last wicket.

There were early setbacks in the Darlington reply as Neil Pratt and Steve Chapman were dismissed for a combined total of just four runs. Gary Moody, who had a six and five boundaries in 52 and Mark Jobling (35) led a recovery but when the fourth-wicket partnership was broken, the initiative returned to Saltburn.

They polished off the innings in 47.1 overs with just 137 on the board as Lee Hodgson took a hat-trick in figures of four for 20 from 7.1 overs.

Navdeep Singh bowled throughout and his 24 overs, nine of them maidens, cost just 52 runs for three wickets. Saltburn too made a poor start when they batted first.

Tony Bell, Phil Ramage and Richard Storr all went cheaply but Adil Ditta stroked seven fours in 41 and Tim Hood added a valuable 53 to a total of 202 for eight.

Chapman was the most productive bowler in the Darlington attack returning four for 93 from a continuous 25 overs.

Guisborough remain second following their seven-wicket win over Hartlepool at Park Drive.

Their target was almost 200 and they experienced few problems as openers Gary Murray batted throughout for an unbeaten 77 partnering Chris Allinson (67) in a first-wicket stand which took their side to within sight of victory.

Michael Gough opened with 55 and John Wilkinson added 30 to the Pools total of 196 for nine and for the visitors, Richard Dunn and Imran Jan shared seven wickets.

Bishop Auckland are up to third. They faced the formidable target of 283 at Middlesbrough and won with six wickets and eight balls remaining. Amul Mazumdar was the hero as he crashed two sixes and 21 boundaries a marvellous innings of 168 compiled from only 148 deliveries.

Matthew Brown gave support and his 69 came from 72 balls. Alex Roberts was another century-maker in the game and he had 15 fours out of 134 compiled from 141 deliveries.

Mitch Claydon added 61 and Guy Whatmore 31 as the runs flowed on the splendid Acklam Park wicket. Phil Timmens toiled for 25 overs in the Bishops attack and his splendid effort was rewarded with figures of three for 72.

Richmondshire eased their worries at the bottom of the table defeating fellow strugglers Billingham Synthonia by four wickets. Brenton McDonald found the boundary line seven times scoring 49 of the Synners' total of 168 for nine which came from 50 overs.

The man-of-the-match though was unquestionably Shanoka Dissanayake. He bowled continuously for 25 overs capturing seven of the nine wickets for 68 runs before turning his attentions to devastating effect with the bat. Two Richmond wickets went down with just 17 runs on the board heralding the arrival of Dissanayake who in partnership with Mark Layfield (31) completely changed the course of the innings.

They added 86 for the third wicket. Dissanayake plundered ten boundaries in an unbeaten 91 leading his team to victory with more than five overs to spare.

Thara Gunnarathne was another overseas player in outstanding form with bat and ball in Great Ayton's victory at Marske. In 17.2 overs, he returned four for 67 as the Seasiders ended on 187 from 47.2 overs.

Most of their runs came in a first-wicket stand between Rob Nicol whose 76 from 120 deliveries included 11 boundaries and Neil Coverdale with 41.

Glen Mudd (49) and David Grainge (42) gave Ayton's reply a good send-off before Gunnarathne added a vital 39 as his side edged to victory by four wickets but with just eight balls left. The spin of Lee Beaumont earned him figures of three for 57 from 14.4 overs.

Normanby Hall dropped back to fifth top after losing by just one wicket to Redcar whose target was only 136.

Mohamed Zahid, however, almost snatched victory for the Hall taking six wickets for just 39 runs but Neil Russell stood firm and his unbeaten 42 was crucial.

Runs were also scarce when the home side took first innings and although Ahmed ended unbeaten on 31 the batsmen were troubled by man-of-the-match Russell who eclipsed the performance of Zahid taking seven for 45.

Darlington RA just had the better of Northallerton by two runs. Fortunes ebbed and flowed throughout, and the home side were in with a chance with skipper Ian Gill (59) at the wicket but eventually the innings closed on 171. Batting first, RA posted 173 for eight which included a good innings of 79 by Paul Freary.