Williams saves the day for Boro and they go back to top

IN the Darlington Building Society NYSD ECB Premier League, Middlesbrough travelled to basement club Marton and opted to bat first. Although James Lowe opened with 34, he had little support and the Boro boys were all out for 115, due to the fantastic bowling of Alex Wardell (3-50) and Matthew Connolly (4-33).

Marton were slow to start and with Michael Croft’s 34 the only score of note, they fell short of their target, ending on 107 all out after 33.3 overs. Harry Williams saved the day for Middlesbrough, taking 6-32, alongside Lowe with 3-45. Their win takes Middlesbrough back to the top of the table.

Hartlepool’s Yash Vagadia opened the batting with a fantastic 72 from 96 balls, including ten fours, when they played hosts to Richmondshire. Pool’s total stood at 148-1, when Vagadia was bowled out by Shafiqullah Ghafari, who took 3-54. Harry Crawshaw strengthened their position with 133 not out from 137 balls, and they ended their 50 overs on 259-5.

Richmondshire’s Robert Carr opened well with 59 and Gary Pratt added 67 not out, but they could only reach 181-4, after 42 overs.

Saltburn were put in to bat by visitors Billingham Synthonia and made 213-8 in their 50 overs, with contributions from Ben Ainsley (54), Sam Parry (33), Vishant More (40) and Tom Chisholm (32no).

The wicket takers were Thomas Harper (3-58) and Martin Cull (3-35). Synners had Tayyab Tahir to thank, his stupendous 160 not out from 126 balls, helping them to a winning total of 214-5, in 43.2 overs. Thomas Hardy also added

30. Jack Almond took 3-67.

Barnard Castle chose to bat first when they welcomed Stokesley to Vere Road. Richard Borrowdale scored 66 from 60 balls, and Richard Watson added 54 in their total of 197 all out, in 49.2 overs. Ed Borwell topped the bowling figures with 3-42. Stokesley reached 140-2 in 34 overs to take the points with a revised target. Jonny Weighell hit 70 not out from 97 balls, and Andrew Weighell added 45 not out from 63 balls, including six fours.

Playing hosts to Darlington at Leven Park, Great Ayton opted to bat first. Muhammed Mayet hit 49 and Tom Crown 53 in their final score of 190-9 in 50 overs. Darlington had reached 70-2 in 17 overs when rain stopped play.

Thornaby batted first when they welcomed Stockton. Thornaby were at 38-3 when Husnain

Bukhari (47) and Lewis Harper (43) changed their fortunes. They ended the innings on 213 all out, Chris Hooker (3-39) and Leigh Beaumont (3-45) doing the damage with the ball. Stockton had 32 from Matthew Gill and 29 not out from Beaumont, in their reply of 147-9 in 45.3 overs, when rain stopped play.