Former Workington Reds forward Nathan Waterston was back in town – to punish the cricket team with a career-best 151 not out.
Waterston has concentrated on his cricket after a series of shoulder injuries and operations curtailed his football exploits.
The Furness opener topped his previous best 149 with an impressive performance at the Valentine Ground, an innings which included 16 fours and five sixes.
He faced 166 balls and figured in an opening stand of 178 with fellow Cumbria county player Sam Dutton with Furness finishing on 262-1 from their 50 overs. Dutton, who survived several dropped catches, was the only batsman to fall for a season’s best 81.
Waterston has concentrated on his cricket after a series of shoulder injuries and operations curtailed his football exploits and was hoping he still had more runs in the locker for today’s Cumbria game with Herefordshire at Cockermouth.
Workington, who have been short of runs all season so far, were never going to challenge the Furness total but needed time in the middle.
In fact at one stage of proceedings – when they were 9-3 – it looked as though they would be back in the pavilion to watch the second half of England against Hungary!
But they responded well, led by skipper Matthew Lowden (42), Liam Hazzard (22) and Adam Chambers (22) and eventually reached 151 all out in the 42nd over.
There was one particularly memorable moment, and a reminder that good old-fashioned sporting attitudes still exist. Hazzard, who had grafted hard for almost an hour, was given out caught behind – when he had failed to make contact but had brushed his pad with the bat.
Furness skipper Peter Lawson stepped in to recall the batsman and the umpire reversed his decision.
It’s a rare occurrence, probably the most high profile being when Derek Randall was given out caught behind by Rodney Marsh in the Centenary Test in Melbourne. On Marsh’s intervention Randall was recalled and the decision overturned.
So what do Liam Hazzard and Derek Randall have in common? It might be a future quiz question, well certainly in the Workington club.
Not so pleasing, however, was an incident in the game at Sandair where a player from each side was put on report by the umpires. Cockermouth batsman Gareth White and Keswick wicket-keeper Stephen Moss had been involved in an altercation – which might have been described as handbags on the football field – but needed an umpire to step-in.
It rather spoiled an excellent game in which White had excelled with the bat, making an outstanding unbeaten 121 as Cockermouth made 213-5 from their 50 overs. Young Josh Brown (29) and skipper Matthew Sempill (23) were the next best.
Keswick lost half their side for 100, including pro Risith Upamal (29) after opener Will Atkinson had provided 45.
The McGown brothers, James (24) and Scott (37) put on 51 for the sixth wicket but at the end of the 5oth over Keswick had only reached 190-9. Matthew Siddall put in his best bowling performance for the club since joining in the winter and finished with 5-8 from his ten overs.
League leaders Carlisle got out of jail at Haverigg where they seemed in deep trouble. They lost both openers for nine, slumped to 30-6 and 59-7 before the tail wagged defiantly and they were able to finish on 148-9.
Fraser Conn, batting at nine, top-scored with 31; number ten Chris Blythe was 28 not out while earlier Nico Watt had contributed 26.
It was spinner Watt, the League’s top wicket-taker, who posed most problems for Haverigg with 3-11 from six overs while Conn had 2-8 and all seven Carlisle bowlers took at least one wicket. Opener Drew Postlethwaite top-scored for Haverigg with 15.
Wigton followed-up their good Higson Cup win in mid-week with a comprehensive victory over Dalton at Lowmoor Road.
Put in to bat Wigton made 205, bowled-out in the last over with professional Chris Hodgson (58), Matthew Reed (38) and Jonny Honeyman (32no) leading the way. Lewis Woodend took 5-18 for Dalton.
Rob Jones (41) and Dan Sharp (32no) led the Dalton reply but they never looked like reaching their target and were eventually bowled-out for 128 in the 47th over. Cameron McGuinness (3-21) was the most successful Wigton bowler.
Whitehaven’s woes continued as they were well beaten at home by Millom whose Graham Dawson struck nine sixes and six fours in a whirlwind 110. Dec Tyson (30) and Callum High (25) chipped in as the visitors reached 241-8 in their 50 overs. Andrew Cameron (2-19) was the best Whitehaven bowler.
In reply Whitehaven were bowled-out for 115 and needed Stephen Holliday (35) and Leo Sanczuk (28) to get them many. Pro Primosh Perera (3-24) and Robbie Wilson (3-38) were the main wicket-takers.
The Copeland derby saw Cleator win at Egremont by 82 runs to avenge their Higson Cup defeat earlier in the season.
Opener Steven Lee (34) top-scored for Cleator with Graeme Lilly chipping in down the order with 24 not out as they reached 158. Coady Scott took 3-20 for Egremont.
The Egremont response only lasted 30.1 overs as they were bowled-out for 76. Scott top-scored down the order with 13 and David Blackwell took a season’s best 5-10 for Cleator with pro Kasun Madushanka taking 3-29.
