One of the most remarkable games in the recent history of the league became a statisticians' dream as it produced 619 runs and three centuries and finished with a sensational victory.

Officials are checking to discover if there is anything to compare with the match at Marske, where Guisborough provided the opposition,.

The home professional, Rob Nicol, thrashed 187 runs and remained unbeaten after spending all 50 overs at the crease.

He faced 162 balls and made 106 in boundaries -19 fours and five sixes - having shared in a partnership with Steve Chapman, who made 67, for Marske to finish on 309 for two.

The target would have left some teams doubting the prospect of success.

But Guisborough took up the challenge and with exceptional batting displays from their professional, Farhaan Behardien, and Ryan Murray they won with 17 balls of their 50 overs remaining.

Behardien was unbeaten on 127, his first century for the club, and Murray also passed the 100 mark in style.

Between them they hit 29 fours and two sixes, with the South African facing 105 balls and Murray just 86.

As the championship warmed up, Northallerton achieved a club record seventh straight win but Middlesbrough, in inflicting a first defeat of the season on fellow front runners Marton, will now relish the chase for the title.

Northallerton beat Blackhall comfortably with their two professionals, Rashmi Parida (66 not out) and Jon Barnes (4-46) enjoying their work. John Sample (5-25) also played a notable part.

Paul Moss (51) must have been disappointed his Colliery side could only reach 138, leaving the leaders to win by eight wickets.

There's no stopping the run-fest of Middlesbrough professional Alex Roberts, who made his third successive century and is, after only seven innings, just 19 runs short of 500.

His 117 at Marton came from 131 balls with 13 fours and three sixes. Matthew Connolly (4-35) and Chetnya Nanda (4-59) made sure Marton's batsmen never got on top. They were all out for 161 chasing Boro's 223 for six.

Great Ayton had a splendid seven-wicket win over Bishop Auckland after dismissing them for 103. Match-winners were Riaz Afridi (5-52) and Anthony Doyle (3-26) but skipper David Grainge (43 not out) played his part.

Bottom club, Saltburn, despite the arrival of their new professional Yogesh Galwalker, plunged deeper into trouble when they were beaten by ten wickets by Hartlepool.

Only Lee Hodgson (40) resisted the Pool attack of Ian Palmer (5-51) and Thara Gunarathne (4-17), who had the Seasiders all out for 104.

Paul Johnston (57 not out) and Michael Gough (40 not out) passed the target in 20 overs.

Darlington eased their bottom three worries with their first win of the season, beating Redcar by six wickets with professional Mandla Mashimby (5-50 and 33 not out) getting excellent support from James Alderson (60) and David Eckels (48).

The Seasiders were bowled out for 158, despite an excellent start of 69 from their pro, Tariq Aziz.

Richmondshire had a good win at Normanby Hall with Shanuka Dissanayake (6-18) at his best. The Hall, second bottom again, are heading for another relegation dogfight.

Only Stephen McNicholas, who top scored with 40, is showing any consistency.

In the First Division, leaders Thornaby had another runaway victory, although they had expected one of their toughest tests of the season against Wolviston.

They bowled out their visitors for a meagre 65 with Leigh Beaumont (2-14), Richard Rennard (2-19) and Andrew Emmerson (3-10) sharing the honours.

For Wolviston, George Sayers (3-14) gave the Thornaby batsmen something to think about but it didn't stop them chalking up a sixth win in seven.

Second-placed Seaton Carew, who meet Thornaby this afternoon, kept up the pressure with a big win over Middlesbrough with Marty Skirving hitting an unbeaten century. And the challenge of Billingham Synthonia continued with a fine win against Darlington at Feethams, which kept them within reach of the leaders in third place