A quick-fire innings by Darren Hickey secured a crucial victory for Darlington, who were one of only three sides to win in a programme badly affected by the weather late in the day.

Rain was always threatening and when Marske presented their visitors with a target of 190, Darlington knew they had to press on. John Glendenen struck six boundaries in 40 when he opened the innings and although he quickly lost Mark Stainsby, Hickey became the perfect partner.

He crashed 12 fours and a six in 78 made from only 70 deliveries and when Mark Jobling carried his bat for 34, victory was secured in 35.2 overs.

Stewart Hutton and Ricky Clayton were the mainstays of the Marske innings which went the full 50 overs as 189-9 was posted. Hutton's opening innings of 53 included seven fours and Clayton also found the boundary line on a similar number of occasions, making a straight 50.

The victory keeps Darlington handily placed and Middlesbrough enhanced their championship prospects defeating Thornaby by six wickets.

Despite 62 by Michael Muldowney who received 120 deliveries and 31 from Jeff Love, Thornaby were restricted to 169 all out as West Indian Henderson Bryan took 4-34 in 14 overs and James Beaumont had 4-62 in his 19-overs spell.

Bryan then became match-winner with the bat. After three wickets had fallen, he joined skipper Danny Evans and struck three sixes and nine fours in a hurricane innings of 68 not out which took 42 balls to compile.

Richmondshire were the other side to taste victory and they have moved off the bottom of the table which is now occupied by their opponents, Normanby Hall. Mark Croft struck seven fours in an excellent unbeaten 106 as the Hall's innings realised a healthy 195-5. Three of the wickets went to Clive Layfield for 44 runs in 14 overs.

Chris Whitton opened Richmond's reply and his 57 together with 46 by Andy Mollitt, who added 107 runs for the first wicket, laid the foundations for victory.

The good work was continued by the Layfield brothers Mark (25 not out) and Clive (29 not out) who put on 48 runs in an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership and the necessary runs were accumulated for the loss of three wickets in 48 overs.

The four remaining matches were all abandoned because of rain. Leaders Saltburn must have fancied their chances when they had Darlington RA 47-6 as Adil Ditta and Mauhthashim shared five wickets.

Earlier, Saltburn's batsmen also found it difficult against Australian Paul Thomas whose 7-63 reduced them to 128 which would have been a great deal less had Tony Bell not contributed 56 batting at number eight.

Mark Cosgrove, 16, produced another outstanding performance when Redcar hosted Northallerton but despite claiming five wickets for 38 runs in 12 overs with his quick bowling, the visitors still reached 186-8. The top contribution was extras on 44 and professional Jonathan Barnes added 38, striking four boundaries.

Barnes then claimed three for 35 runs in a lengthy spell of 21 overs and Luke Jarvis took 3-51 to reduce Redcar to 128-7 by the time the weather intervened.

Blackhall, also in the title frame, had made 68 for the loss of just one wicket in 17 overs replying to Guisborough's 194-9. Mark Hopkinson was in good form and his undefeated 36 included a six and five fours.

Top performers for Guisborough were Gary Bolton, with 56 not out and Graham Shaw, who found the ropes five times in 31.

Hartlepool's batsmen look as if they may have turned the corner and for the second successive week they made a reasonable score. Andy Holland, with 40 and David Lamb (43 not out) eased their team to 186-7 at Kingsway where Bishop Auckland were 19 for the loss of one wicket when rain drove the players into the pavilion.