Marske topped 300 in only 44 overs but had to settle for a draw when Darlington RA's batsmen also produced a good performance.

It was Marske's Fahim Fazal and Jonathan Wiltshire who stole the show, however, and both reached three figures with powerful displays. Fazal just had the edge on his colleague hitting no fewer than 11 sixes and ten boundaries in a whirlwind innings which earned him 122 runs from only 60 exhilarating deliveries.

Wiltshire was not far behind in the scoring stakes carrying his bat for 105 with a couple of sixes and 15 fours. He received 133 balls and batted throughout the innings before the declaration was applied with 311 for the loss of three wickets on the board.

RA's target was probably the most formidable they will face throughout the season but they were not over-awed and comfortably gained a share of the points with 177-6 including an unbeaten 70 by Gerard Hull. He stroked 12 boundaries and a six from 105 balls delivered to him.

Runs also flowed in the game of the day between Middlesbrough and Guisborough at Acklam Park and although the result was a draw the margin between the sides was not that great.

Skipper Danny Evans took an unbeaten 77 off the Guisborough attack with a couple of sixes and seven fours from 78 deliveries and his partnership with Richard Storr retrieved an uncertain start by Boro., who lost their first three wickets for just 17 runs.

Storr's contribution was 80 with a six and 12 fours and in the Guisborough attack, David Towes again bowled economically sending down 20 overs in taking 3-66.

Guisborough's Saul Clifford, with 84 from 113 deliveries and his first wicket partner Richard Dunn (32) led the reply but Clifford's run-out was a blow to his side's chances and at stumps, the total of 214-8 was 26 runs short of a winning score.

Northallerton caused an early-season shock defeating fancied Blackhall by 39 runs. Man-of-the-match Jonathan Barnes (71) and his captain Ian Gill (56) raised the visitors' total to 187-6 which looked within the reach of the Collierymen.

But when Imran Jan fell for 34, the Blackhall innings stumbled to 148 with three overs remaining. Barnes returned 3-62 in 21 overs and Richard Chandler had the splendid figures of 5-41 from 16 overs.

Newly-promoted Wolviston earned a draw when they met Richmondshire. Mark Layfield (30) and Mathias (53 not out) led Richmond to 179-7 with Jimmy Jones claiming four of the wickets for 49 runs.

The home side soon found themselves up against Richmond's Australian professional Michael Ponter but despite him taking 5-43 and Ben Biker weighing in with three wickets, Wolviston held on at 115-9 when stumps were drawn.

Darlington won their second successive game defeating Redcar by six wickets. Dulip Samaraweera (41) and Neil Russell (53) put together a promising partnership for the first wicket but their dismissals led to a collapse.

The introduction of Hanif-ur-Rehman and Duncan Johnson, who shared seven wickets meant that Darlington faced a target of only 142. Neil Pratt controlled the early innings and his contribution of 70, together with that from Gary Moody (33 not out) earned Darlington a comfortable victory.

Former Darlington RA professional Phil Thomas took six wickets for just 60 runs as Thornaby bowled out Normanby Hall for only 139. Even so, the visitors were made to work hard before securing a narrow two-wickets victory. But for a mid-innings contribution of 35 by Ian McDonald, the result might easily have gone the other way. New pro Mohamed Zahid impressed in the Hall attack with figures of 5-63.

Saltburn piled up 248 in losing just five wickets against Hartlepool at Park Drive. Tony Bell, with 43 and Adil Ditta, who was only three runs short of a century when he was bowled by Andy Carter, were the main scorers along with Umer Rashid (33).

After losing three of the first four batsmen for a combined total of only 24 runs, Pool needed to steady the innings and John Cannon (74) and Gary Wrightson (39) did so effectively. At the end, the home side had made 176 for five