With two wins in their first three games, Marske have left behind their woes of last season to become the early pacesetters, heading a new-look championship from Stokesley and Marton.

Darlington, the current champions, are close and ready to make a bid to retain the silverware.

Marske enjoyed a superb, if nail biting, victory over Guisborough with their new professional, Saeed Bin Nasir, making a second unbeaten century to get his side over the line by one wicket, while the Weighell brothers were again the form pair for Stokesley in beating the much-fancied and revamped Hartlepool side.

Nasir, the Pakistan Under-19 international, who made 100 not out at Seaton Carew on the season’s opening day, reached exactly the same score as he notched the winning run with nine balls to spare against opponents who are fancied to be in the running for the championship.

Guisborough totalled 251-6 with Phil Holdsworth smashing 83 of the runs from 91 balls with 14 fours and a six, supporting openers Karl Turner (47) and Chris Allinson (43) magnificently. Jon Pickard, the Seasiders’ captain, took half the wickets to fall in a 13-over spell.

Marske set off at pace, reaching 141 for one in half the 50 overs. Young Kiwi Ullrich Boshoff made an impressive 38 to be followed by 61 from 97 balls from Lee Hodgson which included 11 boundaries. Then Nasir, with 13 fours and three sixes in a 98-ball century, kept his cool as wickets started to fall.

On 219-8, they needed 33 from the final six overs, but with Josh Carroll nerveless for the last three, they got over the line as the Marske number 11 held up his end without scoring.

Turner (4-76 from 13.3 overs) couldn’t get the final wicket Guisborough needed.

Stokesley, third last season, surprised many by the size of their victory - an impressive seven-wickets – over Pools to move six points behind Marske.

Andrew Weighell (60 from 60 balls), brothers James (51 from 63 balls) and Jonny (25 from 18 balls) collected all but 30 of the 166 runs needed for victory and they lost just three wickets in the process. Only Jon Rickard (47 from 31 balls) showed any resistance to visiting skipper Andrew Weighell (3-39) as they were tied down to 165-7.

Marton enjoyed a momentous victory by seven runs when they hosted Redcar, and were the only side to take 25 points, the extra bonus five for batting first.

Yet when they were dismissed for 120, the lowest of the season, they didn’t look likely to win.

Even halfway through their visitors’ innings they still appeared uncertain victors. Richard Hawthorne (5-23) and new pro, Hasantha Fernando (4-45), brought about a Redcar collapse from 77 for 2 to 113 all out. Eight wickets went for 36 runs.

Mohammed Zahid (4-33) and Dale Metcalfe (4-47) caused Marton most problems as they were bowled out in 47 overs with the last five wickets falling for 20. Redcar caved in after Tom Urwin (44) was third out.

Darlington came close to winning at Normanby Hall but couldn’t budge the last two batsmen and had to be content with maximum draw points. Had they won they would now be sharing top place with Marske. But two tail enders, young Adam Beaumont and the experienced Chris Sawyer, defied their attack for the last four overs.

Quakers enjoyed a strong batting display with Liam Coates (89 not out from 99 balls) and Matty Brown (62 from 94) laying the foundation for their 50-over 240 for 4. Normanby were boosted by 57 from Sri Lankan Sachithra Serasinghe, but with Doug Mullholland (5-60) and Coates (3-43) also on song they struggled to 148 for 8. Then came the backs-to-the-wall finish.

Middlesbrough enjoyed an impressive day’s work against Seaton Carew at Acklam Park and their six-wicket win moved them up to fifth. Omar Shahid (64 from 36 balls) was at his most explosive as he helped skipper James Lowe (60 not out from 70) knock up 167 runs. Martin Skirving (63) and Sanjaya Rodrigo (26) were lone battlers for Seaton.

Rain washed out the games at Barnard Castle (against Great Ayton) and Richmondshire (against Norton).