Bishop Auckland held onto the leadership by the skin of their teeth when they were taken to the wire by Marton at Kingsway on Saturday.

The home side's total of 179 for eight achieved from the maximum 50 overs looked useful if not impregnable.

When Marton took up the challenge they ended just three runs short of a winning margin with as many wickets intact.

It was opener Martin Hood who almost claimed victory for the visitors.

He recorded seven fours in 62 and a useful 34 from Ravi Sanghvi kept the scoreboard ticking along but victory just eluded the visitors.

Chris Sawyer bowled 21 overs in the Bishop attack taking four of the seven wickets for 70 runs.

Ben Usher was the mainstay of the home innings, hitting four sixes and three boundaries out of 63. For Marton Dan Conway bowled an economical 18 overs, returning 3-47.

At the other end of the table Darlington RA are now bottom after losing by nine wickets in quick time against Northallerton.

It took the visiting bowlers only 46 overs to despatch the RA batsmen back to the pavilion with 69 runs on the board.

Kevin Clarkson conceded only 21 runs for five wickets and Jonathan Barnes leaked a mere 21 runs in 23 overs, 14 of which were maidens.

Indian Rashmi Parida then stroked seven boundaries, ending unbeaten on 46 out of a total of 72 for one.

Redcar moved off the basement when they recorded their first win of the campaign. Australian Aaron Heal found the boundary line five times contributing an unbeaten 60 to the Darlington total of 147-5 which took the full 50 overs to compile.

Tariq Aziz, with seven fours in 53, Ollie Rogers (39) and Andy Hassack (34 not out) then secured victory in 38.3 overs.

Champions Saltburn have now managed just one win in seven after losing by three wickets to Richmondshire.

Paul Ramage and Tim Hood were the pick of the visitors batsmen who all found the going difficult against Durham County's Mark Davies, who took six for 55.

Mark Fleming (57) put Richmond into a good position but the innings still needed an unbeaten 25 from Andy Dade to see them home.

Hartlepool are up to second just a couple of points off the top. They won for the fourth time after seeing off Marske by 64 runs.

Michael Gough opened with a half-century, John Wilkinson added 46 before being run out and Thara Gunarathne ended undefeated on 47 out of a near-200 total.

John Wiltshire was on form for Marske, making 42, but the innings petered out for 127 as Ashley Day and Ian Palmer both captured three wickets. Gunarathne and Gough shared the other four.

Steve McNicholas earned Normanby Hall a share of the points against Guisborough at Fountains Garth. He went to the wicket at No 3 and was still there at the end unbeaten on 50 out of a total of 84 for five.

Batting first, Guisborough posted 207-6 with runs down the order from Gary Murray (47), Sean Clingeleffer (50) and Neil Russell with 33.

The game between Great Ayton and Middlesbrough was also drawn as both teams scored freely.

Following an uncertain start, Ayton regrouped thanks to Riaz Afridi (59), John Grainge (49 not out) and Anthony Doyle (56 not out) and the healthy total of 255-6 - the highest of the day - was achieved. Spillane steadied Boro's reply, making 55 at No 3, but the innings only produced 175 for eight as Afridi completed a good game claiming 4-63.