The season’s most unpredictable result brought Richmondshire falling from top spot, beaten by bottom club Seaton Carew in a classic ending which produced their first win in 18 league games.

They chased down a daunting score with a last over victory. And the unexpected defeat of the Dalesmen left the door open for Barnard Castle to go back to the top of the division, turning a four-point deficit into an eight-point advantage with an impressive victory at Guisborough.

Stokesley, winners over Darlington in equally splendid style, closed the gap at the top and the run in is set for a three-club stake out.

Richmond dropped to second despite more victims for Toby Bulcock, the league’s leading wicket taker, who took his tally to 70. His four for 61 in 17 overs didn’t stop Seaton reaching 189-9 with three runs to win the match in the final over.

Sanajaya Rodrigo (67), Paul Braithwaite (45) and Martin Skirving (21) all batted steadily before the big-hit merchants, Stu Lobb (11 from nine balls) and Danny Evans (13 from ten balls) took them closer to their success. Three runs were needed from the last over, with the Dalesmen needing one last wicket to win in a tense finale.

Andrew Fleming (70) and Steven Mather (64) shared an 87-run fourth wicket partnership which steadied the nerves after Richmond lost their first three wickets for 32. Lobb (3-45), Evans (2-33) and Sanjaya Rodrigo (2-50) were the hosts top men. Then came Seaton’s best display in the league for four months.

An unbroken partnership between Aamer Sajjad (84) and Simon Tennant (45) eased Barnard Castle to a nine-wicket win over Guisborough who could manage just 130-9 despite Karl Turner making 71. Tennant (3-15) and Josh Bousfield (3-36) kept the hosts subdued.

Darlington’s James Dobson hit his second century of the season, but Stokesley won by eight wickets at Feethams.

They might have thought the victory was beyond them after Quakers recovered from a precarious 25-5 runs to reach 184-6 with Dobson (121 from 192 balls) and Doug Mulholland (41no) putting on 158 for the sixth wicket. But Jonny Weighell (59), Jack Craig (82 not out) and James Weighell (36) found their winning form with six overs to spare. The pace of Shrikant Wagh (5-45 in 14 overs) troubled Darlington’s early batsmen as he claimed the first five wickets to fall to put the Quakers in immediate disarray.

Normanby Hall moved closer to safety with their fourth win of the season – and the points had double value as it was against fellow strugglers Norton.

Chris Witherley (4-27) and James Clarkson (4-11) restricted the hosts to 128 before Normanby reached the target with six wickets in hand as Carl McGregor (45) and Clarkson (30) joined together. The consolation in Norton’s defeat was another wicket for the history-making Helen Furby, the first female to grace the Premier League, who bowled another ten tidy overs with her leg breaks.

Great Ayton enjoyed a sixth win and have turned around a poor start to the season. Their latest success was against Marton, who need to re-ignite their game or face relegation.

Chris Batchelor, who has two centuries, came within ten runs of another with his side making 178-8 before their visitors were bowled out for 124 by Lewis Harper (5-52 from 17 overs). Veteran Graham Shaw held up the Ayton onslaught with an unbeaten 41 for Marton. Ayton moved up two places to seventh.

Another tight finish came at Redcar where Hartlepool made 216-2 and couldn’t break down the last two Seasiders for the final wicket.

Shani Dissanayake (4-26) and Lewis Stabler (4-32) shared 34 overs but, despite losing four of their last five wickets for 19 runs, Redcar held on 101-9. David Seymour made 104 not out – a maiden league century – for Pool with 13 boundaries in facing 112 balls.

Marske (218-7) and Middlesbrough (177-7) played out a draw with Lee Hodgson (119no) making his third century for the Seasiders. Steve Reeves (67 and 3-45) had another good all-round day for Boro.

The Division One title race was blown open with Thornaby’s five-wicket defeat of leaders Billingham taking them to within 14 points of the table-toppers, after second-placed Whitby had also suffered a surprise setback at Blackhall.