DARLINGTON became the champions for the first time in 24 years, and for an historic 21st occasion, after Richmondshire’s bid to spoil the party ended unexpectedly. One day after Yorkshire were crowned County champions, the NYSD Premier title left the county for the first time in 15 years.

With thoughts of a final day decider to come when the two clubs meet on Saturday, the Dalesmen saw their hopes of a third successive title disappear in the fading light on their own ground against the unlikeliest of rivals.

Quakers had already done an efficient job in beating Saltburn, to send the losers down to Division One with Sedgefield, when they learned Hartlepool were enjoying their day at Richmond.

It meant the league’s leading wicket-taker, Jonny Barnes was able to celebrate his first title after 30 years in senior cricket.

He took his 76th wicket at Saltburn where he bowled nine of his 17 overs without conceding a run and finished with two for 16.

Along with Liam Coates (5-32) they dismissed the Seasiders for 86 in a seven- wicket win.

Coming in on 41-7 after the previous five batsmen had gone for four runs, Jason Erskine became top scorer with an unbeaten 22.

Fellow wicketkeepers, Dan Hodgson (30) and James Dobson (28), were unbeaten as they put on 63 to steer Quakers out of trouble at 26 for 3.

Hartlepool’s star performers at Richmond were Jonathan Rickard, who made 123 from the same number of balls, and Marc Symington (77) who remained unbeaten as they put on 178 for the fifth wicket.

Their brilliant partnership, which included 31 boundaries with five sixes, left the Dalesmen dumbfounded and Pools were only 22 runs short of victory after chasing 277.

They came together on 77 for four and ended on 255 for four with Symington facing 96 balls.

Richmond declared after 46 overs to give themselves more time to bowl out their opponents, but the plan crumbled.

Only Lewis Stabler (3-43) was successful, and he also thrashed 32 out of 36 from 12 balls before the declaration, which followed quickfire runs from James Clarkson (79) and Mike Layfield (67).

Gary Pratt hit 35 to take him to 1,040 for the season.

It was a bonanza day for batsmen with five other centuries, bringing the season’s total to 30. Whalid Ghauri (164) and James Lowe (103) hammered the Sedgefield bowling while Tom Urwin (111 not out) and Phil Holdsworth (121) were in opposition when Guisborough defeated Redcar. James Weighell (125) was in sparkling form for Stokesley at Marske.

Ghauri smashed 19 fours and four sixes at Acklam Park from 104 balls.

He shared an opening stand worth 210 with skipper Lowe, whose ton with 15 fours and two sixes came from a run a ball.

Redcar skipper Urwin’s hundred was his second with 13 boundaries from 153 balls, but Holdsworth’s second was faster with his 100 balls including 11 fours and six sixes.

He shared a stand of 188 with Roshen Silva (62 not out).

Weighell’s was his first for the season and it featured in a stand of 199 with brother Jonny (47) as Stokesley made 256-4 to gain 17 points in a winning draw at Marske and giving themselves an outside chance of leapfrogging Richmond in the final match to finish as runners-up.

Great Ayton’s Chris Batchelor hit an unbeaten 86 against Seaton Carew which took him beyond the 1,000 runs milestone in just 25 matches.

The First Division promotion fight is open after a shock defeat for leaders Blackhall, who sit in second place to Norton.

Fourth-placed Whitby, who seemed out of the race for one of two places in the premier division, are now back on the fringe after taking 25 points in only Blackhall’s third defeat of the season.

Norton took 20 in defeating Bishop Auckland by six wickets while Normanby Hall, who won by 135 runs against Darlington RA, with Henry Blackett making a hundred, are now just five points behind the Colliers.