Normanby Hall caused a stir defeating fancied Saltburn by 32 runs in a game which produced only 254 runs as all 20 wickets fell.

Hall could hardly have been confident at the halfway stage with only 143 on the board from 41 overs, but shone with the ball by sending Saltburn back for just 111 in 40.3 overs.

Stephen McNicholas struck six boundaries out of 34 and professional Mohamed Zahid had eight fours scoring 45, but they were the only batsmen to seriously trouble the Saltburn bowlers.

Most of the time Mohamed Rashid and Umer Rashid were in command. The former returned the excellent figures of 6-49 from his 16.5 overs stint and Umer took 3-45 in 15 overs.

A turning point in Saltburn's reply came when Tony Bell was run out for 57 and the innings soon collapsed in the face of controlled bowling by Mohamed Zahid (4-41) from 19.3 overs and Talib Ramzan whose four wickets cost him 27 runs.

Champions Guisborough saw off last season's runners-up Blackhall with 72 runs to spare. Graham Shaw, with a couple of sixes and ten boundaries in an unbeaten 134, was instrumental in Guisborough reaching 213-5 despite Richard Watts claiming three wickets for the Collierymen.

Imran Jan opened Blackhall's reply hitting one six and eight boundaries in 44, but the batsmen were well contained by Paul Goodchild (3-35) and Broderick (4-22).

Darlington piled up 308-4 before declaring after just 46 overs against Richmondshire at Feethams. The runs flowed from Hanif-ur-Rehman with 85, Neil Pratt (76) and Mark Jobling, with an unbeaten 76.

Richmondshire were given 54 overs for their reply and posted 237-6. Mark Layfield began with 59 and his opening partner, Andy Mollitt, contributed 43.

Marske had only 15 runs in hand visiting Northallerton. Richard Rennard (33) top-scored but Marske were assisted by 32 extras as Jonathan Barnes again performed well with the ball, taking 4-70.

Barnes then took charge of Northallerton's reply but when he was one of Rennard's three victims, the innings ended on 164 as Tim Hood claimed five wickets for a paltry 21 runs.

Darlington RA were sent back for just 92 at Redcar for whom Neil Russell claimed 4-14. Despite being faced with such a modest target, Redcar conceded five wickets and were grateful to professional Dulip Samaraweera who batted throughout for a match-winning unbeaten half century.

Wolviston are finding life tough in the top flight and they lost again, going down by 40 runs to Hartlepool. Steve Chapman was the scourge of their batsmen taking 7-48 and he was also joint top scorer with Andy Carter (35) in Pool's total of 148-8. Jimmy Jones bowled a good end for Wolviston and was well worth his figures of 5-51.

The game between Thornaby and Middlesbrough ended in a draw with Boro in the ascendancy. When they batted first, Richard Storr hit a fine 121 and Mark Foster 45 in a total of 232-7.

Thornaby's reply progressed to 130-7 at stumps and the home side were grateful for innings of 33 from Ian Still and 31 not out by Ian McDonald. Danny Evans used seven bowlers in his attack in an attempt to force victory and the most successful was the opener, Mark Foster, whose three wickets were taken for 17 runs.