DARLINGTON let slip their stranglehold on the league as never-say-die champions Richmondshire inflicted a first defeat of the season on them.

As if to celebrate reaching the halfway stage with their best of eight victories – by six wickets – the Dalesmen not only exposed the batting weaknesses of their main rivals, whom they restricted to 163-9 from their 50 overs, but more than held their own against their rivals’ attack.

Even though Gary Pratt was out for four, Mike Layfield (44) and James Clarkson (24) put them on top with a second wicket stand worth 61 before Shani Dissanayake (50 not out) and Andrew Fleming (27 not out) shared the match-winning partnership of 51 runs.

The Richmond professional, who got his half century from the game’s final ball, hit eight fours while Layfield took 57 balls with nine boundaries.

Their batting strength was underlined by the fact that the league’s top wicket taker, Jon Barnes (3-52 from 17 overs) and Doug Mulholland, who took the only other wicket to fall at a personal cost of 53 runs from 11 overs, rarely looked like getting them back in the game.

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When Darlington batted, Liam Coates, the league’s leading run maker, made 56 from 100 balls with eight boundaries, but only James Dobson (36) and Mulholland (28 not out from 35 balls) also looked comfortable against Lewis Stabler (3-44), Dissanayake (3-66) and Clarkson (2-26).

Richmond trimmed back Darlington’s lead from 33 points to 18. Stokesley, now just 26 points behind the leaders, are also in the mix.

They gained one of their finest victories at Barnard Castle, leapfrogging them into third place, while at the same time putting more space between themselves and fifth-placed Great Ayton who could only manage a winning draw despite making over 300 runs, the day’s highest.

Stokesley skittled out Barney on their own pitch for 100 with Dieter Klein (6-50) and James Weighell (4-43) inflicting the damage.

It was the South African professional’s best return since signing. Andrew Weighell (43 from 53 balls with five fours and two sixes) and anchorman, James Beaumont (30 not out from 85 balls), saw them home by seven wickets.

For Barnard Castle, James Quinn (32 and 2-14) was the only real contributor.

The outstanding Chris Batchelor was the Great Ayton star with an unbeaten 144 from 146 balls against Guisborough, but he missed out on a second landmark – becoming the second player to reach 500 league runs for the season – as the overs ran out.

He ended five short after hitting 19 fours and two sixes.

The Ayton professional, out one run short of a century last week, made no mistake this time sharing in a stand of 100 with Sam Harper (39), another of 74 with David Grainge (40) and an opener with Nick Hendrie (32) worth 65.

Despite four wickets for Michael Croft and three for Lewis Harper, Guisborough were left playing for draw points as they finished 77 runs behind on 233- 7. Phil Holdsworth (74 from 82 balls with ten boundaries) and Martin Hood (58 from 93 balls) showed star quality for the Priory club.

Marton lost ground as title outsiders when held to a draw on a spinners’ wicket at Redcar.

But it proved a happy first day for their new professional, Sri Lankan, Umega Chaturanga, who arrived in the UK just in time to show his batting skills.

His undefeated 38 runs from 66 balls saved his new side from defeat.

He also bowled 17 overs to concede just 20 runs with his spin.

Redcar (139-8) got more points after Dale Metcalfe (4-29), Mohammed Zahid (3-27) and Mohammad Saad (2-35) took Marton to the last over on 109-9.

Young Faz Hussain held firm for them, facing seven of the last balls.

Marske, without five first teamers, held out for a draw against Hartlepool with Marc Symington marking his return to bowling after a knee problem with five for 41 from 17 overs.

Jon Rickard made 61 out of 208-7 for Pool with Marske (163- 6) never within reach.

Middlesbrough’s form continued to cause concern as Seaton Carew became the latest to beat them, while bottom club Sedgefield will never come closer to winning than against Saltburn in the meeting of the two bottom clubs.

Fit again, Mark Davies returned for only his second game as pro, but veteran Martin Cull, with remarkable figures of 4 for 17 from 17 overs, who almost proved the match winner.

Saltburn hung in on 128-9 after Sedgefield made 164.