One-wicket win puts Richmond back on top

RICHMONDSHIRE, knocked off the top last week when beaten by Hartlepool in a rain-affected game, bounced back into pole position with a one-wicket win over visiting Thornaby.

The Teessiders batted first, Husnain Bukhari hitting 53 and Lewis Harper 60, as they totalled 207-8 in their 50 overs.

Shafiqullah Ghafari performed well with the ball, taking 5-50.

Richmondshire had Michael Layfield (63) and Gary Pratt (33) to thank, for helping them to a final score of 209-9, catapulting them back above Middlesbrough.

Marton gave their survival hopes a huge boost by winning at Billingham Synthonia in the relegation scrap.

Batting first, basement club Marton declared on 221-6 after 43 overs. Rahul Dalal struck 113 from 85 balls (including 15 fours and three sixes) and Tom Miller hit a half-century. Thomas Wing took 3-50.

Synthonia struggled to 150 all out, only JP Meade (56 not out) hitting a decent score.

Sam Berry slaughtered the batting order with a magnificent bowling spell of 8-27, giving relegationthreatened Marton a much-needed win - and dragging their opponents into the bottom two by doing so.

Great Ayton put themselves in to bat first when they travelled to Saltburn. Jon Grainge got them off to a good start with 79 but with too little support from his team mates, they were all out for 175.

Alex Smith (5-64) and Chris Morrison (4-29) did the damage with the ball.

Saltburn started well with 78 from Ben Ainsley but with his only support being 32 from Vishant More, they were all out for 166.

Doug Mulholland (3-33) and Lucas Parry (3-26) were most successful bowlers for Great Ayton.

Stockton put Barnard Castle in to bat first when they visited The Grangefield Ground.

James Quinn (58), Karl Carver (62) and Richard Watson (30no) helped their team to 265-8 in their 50 overs. Jamie Burke (3-73) and Tom Gaffney (3-59) were best for Stockton’s bowlers.

Stockton slumped to a lowly 73 all out in 23.4 overs as the competent bowling of Josh Bousfield (3-32) and Robert West (3-27) helped Barnard Castle to a 192-run victory.

Stokesley were sent out to bat by visitors Darlington. James Weighell hit 76 and Harry Harding 31 not out in their 210-9. Craig Marshall (3-50) and Liam Burgess (3-51) performed well with the ball.

For Darlington, Muhammad Saad was 86 not out, which helped his team to 188-8. The bowling of James Weighell (3-44) and Finlay Morris (3-45) was not enough to secure a win and they had to settle for a share of the points.