If Cockermouth go on to win the Cumbria League’s Premier Division title they will surely look back to June 25 and their win at Workington.
For not only were they on the ropes, but on the canvas and dazed, as Workington had reduced their visitors to 17-6.
The cream of the Cockermouth batting had been removed by what was generally regarded as a very good mixed Workington bowling attack of youth and experience.
That Cockermouth eventually got to 78 all out was virtually all down to a seventh wicket stand of 50 between Sam Sharp (30) and overseas amateur Mikyle Louis (26).
Five of the six Workington bowlers used took wickets with Lahiru Dilshan (2-2), Ben Scott (2-7) and Adam Chambers (2-21) the most successful.
Workington didn’t look as strong in the batting line-up as they had in the bowling department and it was a blow losing the experienced Callum Moffat and opening partner Jake Daniel with only eight on the board.
Skipper Matthew Lowden, who has produced some staunch efforts with the bat for his side this season, looked prepared to graft his way to the target but lacked sustained support.
He and Dilshan put on 22 for the third wicket, but that proved to be the highest stand of the innings and in the end they wilted, bowled out for 59.
The admirable Lowden was left stranded on 19 not out while the left arm spin of Matthew Siddall proved decisive, taking 5-7, and Gabriel Drimmie had 2-3.
A heavy downpour threatened to disrupt Carlisle at home to Egremont but in the end it was not crucial as they only lost three overs.
Professional Michael Slack led the way with 76 for Carlisle as they reached 193-8 off their 47 overs. Best support came from Alex Raybould (39) and Ben Davidson (27).
Egremont, now very much in a relegation fight, were dismissed for 100 in 35.1 overs with Matthew Hunter top-scoring on 34.
Carlisle’s 20-year-old spin bowler Johnny Westgarth enjoyed a career best 7-36 as the city side won by 93 runs.
That defeat, and Whitehaven’s victory over Cleator, combined to put Egremont bottom of the table.
Whitehaven produced one of their best performances of the season to beat Cleator by six wickets.
Professional Timycen Maruma has not had a lot of luck so far after his late start because of a hand injury. But he had a key role to play in the win with both bat and ball.
Cleator had been put in to bat and were looking set for a decent score with Darren Clark going well and threatening to take the game away from the home side.
But a smart stumping by Leo Sanczuk off Maruma when Clark was on 79 (ten fours) halted Cleator’s progress. He and Douglas Hughes (26) had put on 78 for the fifth wicket.
In the end they had reached 200-9 from the 48 overs possible with Maruma taking 5-38.
Nathan Carmichael (20) and Sanczuk got Whitehaven away to a solid start and then the wicket-keeper helped Maruma add 74 for the second wicket before he was out for a career best 66.
Maruma (45), 16-year-old Josh Foster (26) and Stephen Holliday (21 no) completed the job for Whitehaven as they reached 203-4 in the 42nd over.
Another century from Nathan Waterston helped Furness record a five-wicket win at home to Wigton.
After bowling out the visitors for 173, Furness were carried to victory at the start of the 34th over as Waterston hit his second century of the month.
He only faced 97 balls for his 114 and incredibly struck 82 of them in boundaries – ten fours and seven sixes. Fellow opener Lewis Gribbin was next best with 27.
Cameron McGuinness took 3-34 for Wigton from 6.1 overs and he also had a part to play in Wigton reaching 173.
Going in at ten he made 30 not out, featuring in a last wicket stand of 24 with Glen Liddle. Earlier professional Chris Hodgson had top-scored with 58.
Sol Stanway was the most successful bowler for Furness, taking 3-33.
There was also another century for Keswick’s Risith Upamal against Haverigg as the Fitz Park side stayed third in the table with a win by 127 runs over Haverigg.
Upamal, who is proving an able replacement for fellow Sri Lankan Geeth Kumara, hit 118 in a Keswick total of 287-7 from their 50 overs. He faced 114 balls and struck 11 fours and three sixes, figuring in a fourth wicket stand of 157 with Scott McGown (65).
Sachin Jayawardina was the most successful Haverigg bowler taking 3-68.
Rain brought the game to an early close but Haverigg were well short of their revised target and finished on 76.6 off 29.2 overs. Dan Gaskell took 2-7 and James Beckingham (2-16).
In the other game Dalton’s winning run was ended by Millom who had posted 168-8 in their 50 overs. The home side were dismissed for 141 in 45.3 overs.
Rain brought the game to an early close but Haverigg were well short of their revised target and finished on 76.6 off 29.2 overs. Dan Gaskell took 2-7 and James Beckingham (2-16).
In the other game Dalton’s winning run was ended by Millom who had posted 168-8 in their 50 overs. The home side were dismissed for 141 in 45.3 overs.
