Dunn total not enough as Blackhall triumph

Blackhall went into their game against champions Guisborough without a win and bottom of the table, but despite Richard Dunn making the highest score of the day, the Colliery side celebrated.

Their chances at the halfway stage did not look good and at the start of their innings, odds on a victory lengthened as two wickets went cheaply.

It was then that Tony Booth was joined by Imran Jan and the pair put Blackhall within sight of victory before Jan departed for 77. Booth stood firm steering his side to a five-wicket win, carrying his bat for 71.

Dunn was in superb form for Guisborough but his effort proved to be of no avail. He struck 130 as the visitors progressed to 219-7 which, at the very least, looked defendable at the tea interval.

Richard Hawthorne was another high-scoring century-maker who ended on the losing side. He batted throughout the Bishop Auckland innings against Darlington RA at Brinkburn Road, carrying his bat for 117 which together with 46 by Paul Jenkin enabled the visitors to post a formidable 228-6.

RA quickly conceded the wickets of David Eckels and Paul Freary at which stage man of the match Gerard Hull became Darren Hickey's partner in a third-wicket stand which was to determine the outcome.

Hickey was bowled for 40 but Hull stood firm and, assisted by Steve Russell, Jimmy Middleton and Mark Eyles, led his side home with three wickets intact.

Redcar stay top of the table following a comfortable success at home to Middlesbrough. Brenton Parchment temporarily raised the hopes of Boro when he opened the innings and contributed 32 but following his dismissal, wickets fell cheaply to the six-man attack and the innings stuttered to 126-9.

From then on it was easy for Redcar and Martin Hood and Dulip Samaraweera put on 87 for the first wicket stand. Hood was caught after striking six fours in 47 and Samaraweera finished undefeated on 48 having also found the boundary line six times.

Saltburn enhanced their early-season challenge, beating Hartlepool who were back in the pavilion for only 158. Steve Chapman scored more than a third of the runs with 58, including six boundaries but the batsmen were troubled by Mauhtashim Rashid who claimed six wickets for 49 runs in a continuous spell of 25 overs which included six maidens.

Tony Bell led Saltburn's reply, recording nine boundaries in 52 which together with 31 from Jonathan Bond and useful scores from Richard Storr and Adil Ditta, easily secured the points. Storr and Ditta added 55 for the unbroken fourth-wicket partnership.

Richmondshire overtook the Thornaby total of 211-5 declared, losing seven wickets. Shanoka Dissanayake was only one run short of a half century.

It was with the bat that Kanitkar really starred though and he looked good making his best score to date, an unbeaten 115 which included a six and 14 boundaries. Paul Merryweather chipped in with 46 allowing a declaration but in the end it was Richmond who celebrated.

Normanby Hall lost seven wickets reaching the target of 108 set by Northallerton and but for an unbeaten 41 by Myers batting number eight, they would have been in big trouble.

Mohamed Zahid and Steve McNicholas shared nine wickets in the Hall attack but they failed to remove Jonathan Barnes who ended undefeated on 45.

Darlington and Marske both scored in excess of 200 but neither tasted success. Mark Stainsby (79), Simon Guy (41), Gary Moody (45) and Daniel Page with an unbeaten 34 enabled the Feethams side to realise 237-6.

There was early hope of a Darlington victory but Tim Hood held them up before Ryan Lazenby produced an innings which earned him 72 not out and when time was called, Marske were comfortable on 204-7.

In Division One, Keith Martin turned in a matchwinning performance for Billingham Synthonia and his lengthy stint with the ball had Bedale back in the pavilion with only 107 runs on the board.

He sent down 19.3 overs, including six maidens, and claimed seven wickets for 42 runs. In contrast, the Synners' batsmen had few difficulties passing the 200 mark before the declaration was applied.

Simon Driver led the way with 10 boundaries in 75, Dennis Wing had a six and five fours contributing 57 while Neil Skerritt (30) and James Manners with 40 also played a part.

Seaton Carew, enjoyed a comfortable win at home to Stokesley who conceded 236 for three. Paul Gough (32) and Ricky Clayton (59) gave Seaton a perfect start before Richie Evans with 71 and Martin Skirving (34 not out) took over. Dave Alsop captured four wickets as Stokesley stumbled to 97 all out.

Redcar made the biggest score of the day, posting 289-4 against Middlesbrough at Acklam Park. Peter Wilson led the way with 80, Wood was not far behind adding 73 and there were also half centuries from Rogers and Andy Weatherall.

Boro never seriously threatened although Yaqub's 56 was useful as the home side held on at 161-8.

The Marske batsmen were also among the runs, but, despite making 220, Darlington came out on top at Feethams. Keith Barker opened the reply ending unbeaten on 82 after forming a first-wicket partnership with Simon Gough (40) which was the springboard for a seven-wicket win.

Despite making 110, Mike Catchpole finished on the losing side and in the Darlington attack none did better than Philip Simon whose four wickets cost him 65 runs.

Richard Hornbrook (48) and Richard Dove (49) guided Guisborough to a three-wicket success over Marton. Graham Scanlon, who has returned to Marton this season, opened with 40 and Knight made a straight 50 when the home side, batting first, accumulated 186-5.

Wolviston's hopes of making an immediate return to the Premier Division were enhanced with a 36-run victory against Normanby Hall in which Martin O'Neil played a prominent part.

The home side were in some trouble until O'Neil finished unbeaten with 41 as Brown (5-38) and Brian Leach (3-42) reduced the innings to 130. O'Neil then took over with the ball and his five-wickets haul at economic cost had the Hall back in the pavilion for fewer than 100.

Andy Toulson was only nine runs short of a century when he was run out at Great Ayton where Barnard Castle passed the 200 mark. John Ashworth contributed an unbeaten 41 towards the end of the innings.

Although Gary Mudd opened with 61, Ayton never seriously threatened and were restricted to 148 as Little picked up four wickets for only 14 runs.