Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League Premier Division: Darlington RA produced their best performance for a long time to remove Redcar from pole position.

A short while ago it would have been unthinkable for them to seriously challenge a target of over 200, set by the leading side. But such has been their progress that they confidently took on the challenge at Brinkburn Road.

Despite losing captain David Eckels early, RA romped home with seven wickets and almost five overs remaining.

Darren Hickey - as he has done so often in the past - set the scene and his example was followed by young Paul Freary and professional Maroof Khan.

Hickey struck one six and nine boundaries contributing 63, Freary had six fours in 42 before Khan became the eventual match-winner. He put on 77, striking three sixes and nine fours.

The biggest score of the game, however, was recorded by Redcar's in-form Martin Hood.

He ended with 126 out of a total of 207-6, made from the maximum 50 overs. In a game when no fewer than 11 bowlers were used, RA skipper Eckels was the most successful, claiming three wickets.

Guisborough are the new leaders. They comfortably overtook the Thornaby total of 165-8 with eight wickets and five overs in hand.

Saul Clifford found the boundary line seven times, making 55, and both Richard Dunn and Simon Pennock contributed 37, the latter ending unbeaten.

The bulk of the Thornaby total came from Hrishikash Kanitkar, who struck a superb 102. Once again, David Towse bowled throughout the innings and in 25 overs conceded just 63 runs for three wickets.

Dunn gave valuable support to his captain, returning figures of 4-68 from 15 overs.

Guisborough's lead over Redcar is just two points and they are only four ahead of Saltburn, who drew their game with fourth-top Marske.

The Seasiders' 186-9 included 39 from 57 balls by Adil Ditta and an unbeaten 30 by Umer Rashid.

Fahim Fazal sent down 25 overs in the Marske attack, returning the creditable figures of 5-79 and Tim Hood also bowled an economical end with 3-63 from 17 overs.

Marske were indebted to opener Neil Coverdale, who made 58 from 111 deliveries, hitting three sixes and four boundaries. But when little support from other batsmen was forthcoming, the innings stuttered to 113-7 in 35.3 overs before rain stopped play.

Umer Rashid returned 3-47 in 14 overs and his brother Mauhtashim took 4-38 from a 17.3-overs stint.

Darlington's hopes of resurrecting their championship challenge floundered at Richmondshire, who leap-frogged their opponents into fifth position.

The Feethams batsmen struggled for runs against Shanoka Dissanayake, who was economical, conceding only 45 runs for five wickets. He was assisted by Chris Layfield with 3-30.

The visitors, without two leading batsmen, managed only 131, which included 44 by Mark Jobling. Mark Layfield (42) and Dissanayake with 43 handing Richmond a six-wickets victory - their fourth of the season.

Northallerton's batsmen had struggled for runs in previous matches, but rose to the occasion at home to Bishop Auckland when they were faced with a target of 180.

It looked as if another low score was on the cards when four wickets went cheaply, but the ever-reliable Jonathan Barnes and captain Ian Gill formed an unbroken partnership.

Barnes hit a six and seven boundaries, contributing an undefeated 70 and Gill was 47 not out when victory was secured.

When Bishop Auckland batted first, Barnes bowled throughout and from 25 overs took 3-77 helping to restrict the visitors to 179-5.

Richard Hawthorn took the eye with a well-played innings of 74 which included nine fours.

Hartlepool celebrated only their second win in 13 attempts and sent Middlesbrough to second from bottom, marginally ahead of Normanby Hall.

Ashley Day, Andy Holland and Steve Chapman had Boro crashing to just 74 all out before Chapman, with an unbeaten 46, and David Shurmer (24 not out) led their side to an eight-wicket victory.

Normanby Hall gave a spirited performance but had to settle for a draw with Blackhall.

They were set a target of 220 and responded with 176-5 with most of the runs coming from Lee Sykes (70) and Steve McNicholas (34).

Tony Booth (70), Ben Usher with an unbeaten 46 and John Darby (42) were the principal contributors for Blackhall and in the Hall attack, Mohamed Zahid took five wickets for 109 runs.