Cumbria made a great start to their NCCA T20 Trophy campaign with two victories over Northumberland.
They batted first in both games at the South Northumberland club and won by five runs, before they were successful by 33 runs in the second game.
With permission from Lancashire, Richard Gleeson tested his fitness in both games and on his return to the Cumbrian side after seven years he took 2-20 from four overs in both games.
That first stint was particularly crucial as Cumbria squeezed home by five runs with ex-Durham seamer Brodie Glendinning also bowling well to pick-up 2-16 from his four overs.
Spinner Nico Watt was the third Cumbrian bowler to be given four overs and figures of 1-14 demonstrated his value to the side.
In the end Northumberland could only manage 117-7 as they had gone in pursuit of Cumbria’s 122-8.
The Cumbrian innings was built around an important knock of 43 from skipper Michael Slack, accumulated off 34 deliveries with seven fours. Best support came from Nathan Waterston (17) while Matt Oswell took 3-14 from four overs for Northumberland.
In the second game Slack and Sam Dutton gave Cumbria a dream start as they put on 118 for the first wicket.
Dutton went for 55 while Slack continued on his merry way, clouting 87 not out from 52 deliveries which included ten fours and a six.
With Paul Hindmarch hammering three sixes in a quick cameo of 26 not out at the end Cumbria had set their hosts an imposing 185-3 to chase down.
Opener John Oswell hit a bright and breezy 51 from 37 balls, hitting three fours and four sixes, and there was some assistance from Matthew Brown (32no) and Ross Greenwell (22) but Northumberland could only reach 152-5.
Gleeson took 2-20 again while there was one wicket apiece for Watt, Glendinning and young Josh Stirling.
