RECORDS were smashed in one of the most remarkable matches in the league’s history, on a day when the form book elsewhere was also turned inside out.
The record-breaking was at Marske, where 713 runs were scored from 100 overs, the highest ever combined score in a single match, with the Seasiders reaching 372, an alltime best and the first of the records to be broken.
Chris Allinson’s 194 was his highest tally and also a club individual record.
Simon Guy fell just five runs short of his century but faced only 68 balls, while Jonathan Pickard hit a careerbest 60. Together they hit 236 in boundaries.
Opponents Bishop Auckland, bowled out twice previously this season for under 100, replied with an astonishing 341 for five, another alltime record club score, with 17-year-old Ben Thompson making 92, his highest, sharing in one of the biggest opening stands,166, with Dan Conway (63), before Phil Holdsworth blasted 76 more from 55 balls.
In the two innings more than 100 boundaries were hit.
Great Ayton emerged as new leaders as Marton were beaten for the first time, newcomers Barnard Castle gained their first victory since their elevation to the top division, and Stokesley and Northallerton shared the first tied result of the season.
Marton’s defeat was against Ayton, who needed 164 runs to win after new pro Lal Kumar (4-65) teamed up with Ian West (3-46) to rip their early batting apart.
The title favourites were in trouble on 62 for five before Louis Harper hit 56.
Taking up the challenge, Chris Batchelor made an unbeaten 74 to steer the new leaders to a six-wicket victory, with Marton dropping to fourth.
Barnard Castle’s initial success could not have come against more celebrated opponents, beating Middlesbrough at Acklam Park after their trio of spinners, James Quinn (4-23), David Stanwix (3-17) and James Finch (3-57) dismissed the champions for a below-par 158.
James Sutton (49) and Josh Bousfield (47no) led them to a two-wicket win. Dan Hodgson (63) top scored for Boro, who have gone five matches without a win.
Richmond moved into third, six points behind Ayton, after putting an end to Normanby Hall’s inspirational start to the season.
The Hall, still among the top six, were dismissed for a paltry 93 after the in-form Shani Dissanayake (5-13 ) extended his wicket haul to 18.
The Dalesmen gained their third win in five while Normanby, still without their overseas professional, lost for the first time.
Stokesley’s nail-biting finish against Northallerton saw them needing nine runs from the last over to win but getting just eight, taking extra points for a tied finish as both teams scored 193.
Northallerton’s new pro, Anwaar Hafeez, hit 88 as Andrew Helm and James Beaumont each took four wickets for Stokesley.
Andrew Weighell (60) and Ian Still (54no) almost crafted a win, with David Weighell hitting a run-a-ball unbeaten 28, but Jon Barnes, who conceded 37 in 17 accurate overs, stopped them in their tracks.
Full-time county umpire, Michael Gough, put on the pads for a second weekend to make a splendid 83 and share a stand of 119 with Kasun Bodhisha (76) for Hartlepool, who got maximum draw points against Billingham and hotted up their championship challenge by moving into second place, five points behind the leaders.
Pool reached 204 for three and then had the hosts struggling on 65 for five before Mike Yuill (43no) and Simon Driver (33) led a recovery.
Yuill held out for the Synners to finish on 139 for nine, despite three wickets apiece for Marc Symington, Callum Prosser and Bodhisha.
At Darlington, Dan Allinson saved the blushes for Guisborough as he made an unbeaten 28 batting at number nine.
Alex Deuchar (4-50) and Doug Mulholland (3-28) pinned the Priorymen down at 95 for eight but then let them off the hook.
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