Dissanayake rocks leaders as title charge hits buffers

Richmond started the day at the bottom without a victory but their hopes rose as Mark Layfield (51) and Dissanayake (42) put together a productive partnership for the second wicket.

The momemtum was maintained by skipper Andy Mollitt with 41 and the useful total of 202 for the loss of six wickets was achieved in 50 overs.

Even so, the target looked within the reach of Guisborough, who were unbeaten in six games, but Dissanayake produced an exhilarating performance with the ball claiming seven wickets for just 63 runs.

Despite the efforts of Imran Jan and Chris Murray, who both passed 30, Guisborough's innings ended on 181 leaving Richmond to celebrate their first win of the season by a margin of 21 runs.

Guisborough still lead the table since Bishop Auckland went down by 26 runs at Normanby Hall.

Darren Blenkiron scored almost half his team's total contributing 52 out of a disappointing 110 as Mohammed Zahid (4-38) and Ahmed, with the splendid figures of 6-36, caused problems.

The Hall also found runs difficult to come by when they made first use of the wicket and stuttered to 136 all out, which included 40 apiece by Lee Sykes and David Cross.

In their previous game Saltburn were shot out for just 80 but they made Darlington RA pay as they racked up the formidable total of 250-4 before declaring after just 45 overs.

Tony Bell (31) and Phil Ramage who had two sixes and four boundaries in 47, gave the innings the best possible start and the impetus was continued by Fazal (43), Adil Ditta with an unbeaten 67 and Tim Hood (34 not out).

Replying, RA managed only 125 after labouring through no fewer than 49 overs as Singh returned the outstanding figures of 6-33 from 22.2 overs.

Darlington secured their second win defeating Northallerton by 73 runs with almost eight overs to spare. Their first three batsmen were dominant, none more so than Neil Pratt whose 85 included 12 fours.

Both Steve Chapman and Gary Moody added 37 to the total of 214-6 made from 50 overs.

Northallerton occupied the wicket for 42.2 overs before being all out for 141. Mark Stainsby (48), Chris Cowton (33) and Jonathan Barnes with 42 all batted well, high in the order, but Paul Raine and Chapman brought about a collapse sharing eight wickets.

Marske looked to be heading for defeat against Billingham Synthonia when they conceded their first six wickets with just 50 runs on the board replying to a target of 142.

Gary Lynch though came to the rescue and his unbeaten 70 which included a six and eight fours, led the Seasiders to a four-wicket win. Keith Martin took four for 60 in 19 overs for Synners.

Batting first, Billingham managed only 141-7 including a top-scoring 32 by Denis Wing and for Marske, Richard Rennard claimed four wickets for a mere 24 runs in 13 overs, five of them maidens.

Honours were even in the game between Hartlepool and Great Ayton at Park Drive.

Gary Mudd (75) and Thara Gunnaratne (71) dominated the early stages of Ayton's innings and 31 from Andrew Doyle took the total to 232-9.

Ian Palmer and John Gott shared the wickets and when Michael Gough opened with 65 and Martin Johnson contributed 67, Pools were in with a chance. Eventually though the innings made only 187-5.

Middlesbrough's last pair were at the wicket against Redcar at Acklam Park. Alex Roberts defied the Seasiders' attack, scoring 62, but at stumps Boro were only 176-9 as Stuart Mackay took six of the wickets for 70 runs.

Redcar's innings produced the healthy total of 218-2. Martin Hood and Neil Russell both made half centuries with Tom Urwin and Australian Steve De Bolfo also among the runs.

Marton extended their lead at the top of the Division One table with an easy victory at Yarm who found the bowling of Jack Conway and Graham Shaw too hot to handle.

Shaw claimed three wickets while Conway took six at a cost of 52 runs in 13 overs as Yarm were all out for just 135 following 40.5 overs.

Rhys Barker was their top contributor with eight fours in 52.

Runs were more plentiful when Marton batted first. The maximum 50 overs made a healthy 215-5 with Shaw hitting a six and eight fours out of 50 while man-of-the-match Conway added 53 and Chris Lane 42.

Andy Wilson had a good day with the ball for the home side returning 5-70 in 16 overs.

Stokesley, who started the day in second position, scored 229 losing just three wickets at Redcar, but still went down.

Rob Cameron-Clarke struck 12 boundaries in an unbeaten 112 leading Stokesley's innings but Redcar had matchwinners. Lee Powell opened with eight fours in 56 and Mally Whitehead, Andrew Weatherall and Martin Reeves all passed 30 to set up an exciting finale.

It was only from the last ball of the game that Redcar secured a six-wicket victory.

Shoaib Akhtar was in good all-round form in Blackhall's eight-wicket success at home to Bedale.

A lengthy 17.3-overs stint earned him three wickets for only 42 runs as the visitors laboured through 46.3 overs making only 118 which included 32 by Andrew Clapham.

In contrast, the Colliers required just 19.2 overs and conceded only two wickets reaching the low target.

Tony Booth crashed 14 boundaries in an unbeaten 76 and Akhtar ended unbeaten on 21 sharing an undefeated partnership for the third wicket.

Darlington's total of 159 made from 36.5 overs proved insufficient at Seaton Carew who won comfortably. Colin Biglin top-performed with a half century and for Seaton, Kevin Rowntree captured four wickets for only 17 runs in 4.5 overs.

Richard Clayton had a six and ten fours out of 75 and Derek Morgan remained undefeated on 31 as Seaton won in 44 overs with six wickets remaining.

Barnard Castle also had six wickets in hand of Guisborough who made 180 from their maximum 50 overs.

Chris Allinson struck ten fours in 59 and Chris Trillo contributed a useful 34 while for the home side, Michael Stanwix took six wickets for 59 runs from 18 overs including five maidens.

Stanwix then took the man-of-the-match honours.

He went in at number three and finished unbeaten on 91 hitting 15 boundaries from 141 balls.

Andrew Toulson gave valuable support with a six and eight fours out of 44 and Barnard Castle secured victory with four overs left.

Darlington RA defeated Wolviston by six wickets at Brinkburn Road. Andrew Fish top-performed with 42 in the visitors' innings which produced 169-5 with four of the wickets falling to Philip Marr for 47 runs in 13 overs.

Stuart Bell then batted throughout RA's reply and his 72 not out together with 58 by Stephen Marr secured maximum points. Jimmy Jones claimed three of the four wickets to fall for 28 runs.

Thornaby and Normanby Hall drew their game. Ian McDonald stroked ten boundaries in an undefeated 108 and Matt Dex added 62 not out to the formidable Thornaby total of 224-3.

Ken Thwaites held up the home side with a valuable 31 as the Hall ended on 100-6 from no fewer than 51 overs