Table topping Darlington beat the elements and their closest rivals between a cloudburst and hot sunshine on a day when five of the other six games were abandoned and a seventh never even started.
The rip-roaring Quakers defeated second-placed Stokesley to extend their lead from five to 24 points and give their hopes of landing the championship, which has narrowly evaded them over the last two seasons, an early boost.
Put in to bat, Stokesley were faced with conditions which suited the crafty Jonny Barnes, who continued his early season success with four wickets to reach 21 for the season in just his fifth match, including his first ever hat-trick at top level and only a career second.
After skipper Andrew Weighell was superbly run out with a direct hit by Liam Coates with the score on 30, his side collapsed to 36 for five with Jonny Weighell, Tom Preece and James Weighell snared in the Barnes trap in what were the first three balls of his tenth over.
An excellent fight back led by James Beaumont, who had opened the batting, and Josh Linton looked for a while as if it might thwart Darlington’s attack. Barnes, who finished with 4-20, was nearing the end of his 17 overs and the visitors seemed happier at the crease having hit 48 more runs without losing another wicket.
Linton’s 35-ball stay paid off with 30 runs, including 4 fours and a six, while Beaumont’s super careful innings lasting 107 balls gave him 29 runs with just one boundary and seemed to have given his side new hope.
But from 84 for five another collapse hit the visitors with Matty Brown (2-8 in 5.3 overs) and Peter Armstrong (2-7 in 7 overs) taking control. Stokesley’s last five wickets fell for just 19 runs as they crumbled to 103 all out.
Darlington suffered an early scare themselves when Dan Hodgson was out from his very first ball, but the in-form Liam Coates (57 not out) and Rajin Saleh (35 not out) made sure that was the only joy their visitors would get.
They did have to endure one of the many rain breaks when they needed just eight runs to win! Understandably Peter Armstrong, the home captain, wasn’t happy but conditions improved and it needed just three balls after they returned to the field to get their win by nine wickets in just 16.3 overs.
Coates had faced just 52 balls for his half century and Saleh, who has an average of 181 after three innings since arriving from Bangladesh, had handled 9 balls more in an anchor role.
Each of the other games were called off at various stages because of the weather and among those losing ground in the championship race, after suffering what could later in the season be important losses of points, were Richmondshire and Great Ayton.
The Dalesmen, the current champions, had taken four Saltburn wickets for 70 runs in 32 overs when the heaviest downpour came, but with a wet patch on one of the bowlers’ run-ups the game was called off after a two-hour wait. Craig Marshall, who took all four wickets for just 13 runs in 12 overs, was the only happy visitor.
Great Ayton stayed in the top four just two points behind Richmond and Stokesley, who are now in joint second place, but they were having anything but their own way when Barnard Castle came visiting.
Aussie Ben Turner hit an unbeaten 69 from 85 balls with nine fours and two sixes as Barney made 102 for one from the 24 overs possible.
Seaton Carew and Redcar enjoyed the most play in the games subsequently called off. Opener Matt Skirving hit a superb unbeaten 98 with seven fours and a six, making 13 from the final over in an exciting bid to reach his first century at top level.
Seaton made 188 for five from the 50 overs but the game ended after a third downpour with Redcar on 100 for four after 29 overs and with 12 remaining.
Guisborough and Hartlepool shared 20 points in a drawn finish, with the Priory club just starting their innings when most of the other games had finished! They faced five overs before it was called off. Pool had totalled 178 for eight with 61 for Craig Symington.
Sedgefield (8 without loss) faced just 14 balls against Marton while Middlesbrough’s game with Marske was called off on Saturday morning.