Despite losing, Carlisle Cricket Club was delighted with the staging of the county’s first competitive floodlit game.
Played at Edenside, group leaders Workington beat their hosts by 15 runs with some exciting cricket on the way.
An estimated crowd of 1,000 saw over 300 runs scored with 41 boundaries, including nine sixes.
Mark Davidson, the Carlisle secretary said: “Edenside hasn’t seen a night like this in decades. We had an excellent match between two of Cumbria’s leading sides and the ground has been full of spectators.
“The entertainment ran late into the night and the club will be looking at future matches under these conditions.
“Our thanks are due to the committee and sponsors for enabling us to run an event such as this.”
Workington had batted first and despite losing both openers cheaply recovered from 6-2 to make 169-7.
That was largely down to a magnificent 89 from Kristian Moffat who faced only 66 balls and hit 12 fours and three sixes.
There was decent support from club pro Lahiru Dilshan (23) and Simon Beare (23) with young Josh Stirling (3-24) the pick of the Carlisle bowlers.
Carlisle got off to a much better start than their visitors but could not build on it.
Once openers Ben Davidson (45) and Mike Slack (20) went at 76-2 the innings lost momentum.
Alex Raybould (38) did his best but some tight bowling and keen fielding enabled Workington to maintain the pressure.
The innings eventually closed on 154-7 with Adam Chambers (2-24) the most successful Workington bowler.
In the other Northern Group game Cockermouth 161-6 (Gareth White 50) beat Whitehaven 125-6 (pro Terence Warde 34) by 36 runs.
