There looks to be an intriguing race taking place in the Cumbria League’s Premier Division to be the first batsman to reach 1,000 runs.
Three batsmen lead the way and all of them would appear to have a good chance of achieving the four figure mark.
Risith Upamal, the replacement for Geeth Kumara at Keswick leads the way on 605.
That’s from 11 innings, four of them not out and he has an average of 86.43 with two centuries (top score 118) to his name.
Right behind is Carlisle skipper Michael Slack who has scored 601 runs from 12 innings, three of them not out.
He has scored one century – 121 – and has an average of 66.78.
The leading amateur is Nathan Waterston, of Furness, who has scored 534 runs from 10 innings (4 not outs).
He has scored two centuries (the best 151 not out) and tops the batting averages at 89.00.
Meanwhile three of the bottom four teams in the Premier Division face tough tests tomorrow.
Bottom side Egremont travel to Cockermouth who are currently second in the table eight points off top spot.
Next to bottom Whitehaven entertain champions Furness who can’t drop any more points if they are to have a chance of retaining their title from fifth position.
Fourth bottom Dalton, who have a 17-point advantage over Egremont, face a stiff challenge to 100 per cent leaders Carlisle.
Cockermouth produced a remarkable recovery from 19-6 to beat Workington last week and won’t want any more scares like that if they are to run-down Carlisle.
But Egremont, who had been looking to retain their Premier Division status after last year’s promotion, have only one win to show for their efforts in the League.
Whitehaven had a most valuable home win over Cleator last week to move off the bottom and were encouraged by the all-round performance from new pro Timycen Maruma.
Recovering from a hand injury, which delayed his Whitehaven debut, he’s had no luck but hit 45 and took five wickets in the Cleator game.
Also influential was talented young wicket-keeper Leo Sanczuk with a top-scoring 66 and a smart stumping to dismiss the dangerous Darren Clark.
Furness will offer a big threat to Whitehaven’s new found confidence with Nathan Waterston fresh from his second century of the season last week.
Carlisle had a comfortable win over Egremont last week and travel to Dalton strengthened by the return of Fraser Conn and Chris Blythe.
Dalton had given their survival hopes a big boost with two successive wins before losing at home to Millom.
The other team in trouble, third bottom Haverigg are at home to Cleator who are currently in sixth place.
There is a top four contest at Millom where the home club entertain Keswick.
Going into to game third-placed Keswick are nine points better off than Millom, the team immediately below them.
Tomorrow’s other game sees Workington (7th) travel to Wigton (8th). Earlier in the season Wigton earned a very close win at Workington in a low-scoring game.
Workington will be in action tonight when they host Egremont in a T20 West group game at the Valentine Ground.
In the North Group Keswick entertain Cockermouth at Fitz Park. Both sides lost their opening game in the competition – Keswick to Carlisle and Cockermouth to Wigton.
