Whitehaven’s West Indian professional Terence Warde scored a fine, unbeaten century to set up a crucial win at Carlisle.
It improves the chances of the West Cumbrian club avoiding relegation from the Cumbria League’s Premier Division.
Their fellow strugglers Lindal Moor lost at Workington, and trail Whitehaven by eight points although they do have a game in hand, at Cockermouth next Sunday.
On a good batting track Whitehaven made 232-5 in their 50 overs with Warde reaching 102 not out after a solid start from openers Nathan Carmichael (46) and Stephen Holliday (34).
Carlisle just couldn’t find anyone to stay there long enough with opener Tom Benn (43) with best support coming from young tailender Peter Gower junior (27 not out). They were bowled-out for 173 in the 48th over, a rather disappointing way for their title challenge to fizzle out after a bright start to the season.
Six Whitehaven bowlers shared the wickets with Holliday (2-16) and Warde (2-32) backing-up their batting contributions.
Lindal Moor put up a fight at Workington after initially looking as though they would be going home after tea.
It was a wicket that proved tough to bat on but from a low point of 35-7 Lindal were rescued by Paul Willcock (49no) and were able to reach a more respectable 130-9.
Workington weren’t helped by injuries to two bowlers. Skipper Matty Lowden was one, limping out of the attack after bowling only two overs and taking 2-1.
In the end Dave Pearce proved Workington’s most successful bowler by taking 3-25.
Callum Moffat (50), Grant Reid (15) and Thomas Fox (21) all contributed to a good start of 82-1. But when Moffat was run-out shortly after reaching his half century there was a mini collapse before Pearce hit the winning boundary at 134-7 off 26.4 overs. Ryan Gilmour took 3-21.
Keswick got back to winning ways after a slump had followed their rise to the top of the table.
They bowled-out visitors Millom for a paltry 79 and then knocked them off for the loss of just one wicket.
Dan Gaskell(4-35) and Finn Turnbull (3-10) were the bowling heroes for Keswick with pro Primosh Perera (32) and tail-ender Ben High (22) doing most of the scoring for Millom.
Openers Ruairdh Barker (39) and Oscar Link (33no) virtually knocked off the runs between them before being parted.
Cleator had to bring in a sub professional for their trip to Dalton – and he proved a match-winner.
Harsha Rajapaksha, a Sri Lankan who has been professional with Astley Bridge in the Bolton League this summer made 92 in the Cleator total of 179-8 and then took 4-16 from his ten overs as Dalton were bowled-out for 156 in the 45th over. Skipper Tom Sharpe weighed in with 3-36.
For Dalton Daniel Sharpe top-scored with 35 and Rangika Pannala Don took 3-29.
Cleator skipper Sharpe said: “As well as a sub pro we had to bring in three Under-15’s. James Hobbs was making his debut while Ben Wishart and Thomas Whitfield-Bott were playing only their second senior games. Under the circumstances I thought it was a great effort to get the result we did.”
In the other game Haverigg beat Wigton by 60 runs after setting a target of 175-9.
Joe Harvey (35), Kevin Rogan (26) and pro Sachin Jayawardena (25) were the principle scorers for Haverigg with Elliot Armstrong (3-27) the most successful Wigton bowler.
Wigton’s top four all reached double figures, with Chris Hodgson (27) best but they then crumblked to 115 all out as Jayawardena (3-18) and Rogan (3-34) sharing the bowling honours for Haverigg.
The Premier Division table looks like this, with Cockermouth v Lindal Moor still to be played to complete 18 games for everyone – Furness 152, Keswick 131, Cockermouth 126, Carlisle 125, Cleator 109, Millom 105, Workington 96, Wigton 93, Haverigg 82, Dalton 66, Whitehaven 58, Lindal Moor 50.
There’s a full programme tomorrow- Carlisle v Keswick; Cleator v Workington; Dalton v Haverigg; Millom v Lindal Moor; Whitehaven v Furness; Wigton v Cockermouth.
