Great Ayton closed in on leaders Bishop Auckland and Seaton Carew, who were without games, when they surged to an eight-wicket victory at Yarm whose 50 overs produced only 146-7.

David Grainge took charge of Ayton's reply, hitting an unbeaten 79 to secure his team's sixth win of the season.

Marton's title aspirations received a set-back when they failed to claim the last Stokesley wicket. Borwell, who went in at number eight, and Dowson, the second-last batsman, both made 30 and staved off a certain Stokesley defeat after Marton had reached 178-8.

Lee Hutton struck nine boundaries in 61 propelling Darlington to almost 200 at Marske who struggled to 130 all out as Lee and Dent shared seven wickets.

Graham Murray recorded 10 boundaries making 62 out of the Guisborough total of 153 at Barnard Castle for whom Ian Dent returned figures of 6-43 in 15 overs. The home side were 44 without loss when the rain arrived.

Middlesbrough rose to the challenge of scoring 202 and won by three wickets when Lee Roberts carried his bat for 92, hitting one six and 12 fours. Billingham Synthonia's big score came mainly from Dennis Wing with 68 and Gary Burgum with 41.

On Saturday there was excitement galore and nerves were frayed when leaders Bishop Auckland tied their match at Marton with the scores level on 169.

Until Dean Kirby went to the wicket, it looked as if Bishops would secure victory. Kirby almost snatched victory for Marton but after scoring 34 he became one of Stuart Morgan's three victims. Bishops' bowling hero, though, was Phil Timmens who bowled 25.1 consecutive overs taking 6-86.

Bishops, too, made an indifferent start to their innings which was rescued by Timmens whose 59 included a six and six boundaries. Crowther contributed a late unbeaten 32 even though Kirby returned the splendid figures of 4-52 from 24 overs, seven maidens.

Seaton Carew are second after they saw off the challenge from Darlington with 53 runs in hand. Paul Gough (68) and Richard Clayton (47) scored the bulk of Seaton's 176 with Colin Dent taking 5-48 from 20.2 overs. Darlington's reply never gained momemtum and stuttered to 123 all out with Dave Alsop proving economical, returning 3-41 from 20 overs.

Five wickets each by Ryan Murray and Steve Donlon had Redcar back in the pavilion for 56 runs in the home game with Guisborough.

Will McDougall, with a six and 14 boundaries in 69, and Richard Dove (34) were responsible for the visitors' total of 167. Stephen Hutchinson sent down 18.1 overs for Redcar, capturing 7-56.

There was a close finish when Great Ayton squeezed home by just one wicket against Yarm, who were odds-on favourites until David Pennock (39 not out) and David Baillie - scoring just a single - added 40 for Ayton's last wicket. Ossie Flight took eight of the nine wickets to go down for 54 runs in 14.5 overs. Andrew Suddes (36) top-performed when Yarm battled through 49 overs making 108. Colin Murray (3-28) and Anthony Doyle, who had 5-21, both produced good form for Ayton.

Bedale pair Phil Holdsworth (42 not out) and Richie Carruthers, whose unbeaten 90 included two sixes and 13 fours, put on 134 in an unbroken second-wicket stand. Mike Catchpole (44) led Marske to 136 with Mark Ellis and James Clarkson each taking three wickets for Bedale.

After posting 148-7, Stokesley lost at Billingham Synthonia by five wickets. David Weighell, whose half century included six boundaries, top-performed for Stokesley while for Synners Keith Martin bowled a lengthy 25 overs and was well worth his figures of 5-50. Dennis Wing featured in Billingham's reply hitting a six and nine fours in an unbeaten 72.