The top two sides in the Cumbria League’s Premier Division go head-to-head tonight at Sandair in a North Group T20 clash.
But there will be much more interest in their game on Saturday at Edenside which is undoubtedly match of the day as it is the crunch League contest.
Unbeaten leaders Carlisle are 100 per cent so far, and their only defeat so far came in the Higson Cup quarter final at Cockermouth.
So far, Cockermouth have doggedly stuck to Carlisle’s coat tails and have remained eight points behind since they were beaten at home by the city side on the opening day of the season.
Tonight’s crash, bang wallop affair is a nice little taster for Saturday’s confrontation over the longer format.
For both sides Saturday is a must win. A home victory would make Carlisle odds-on to win the title, while a Cockermouth victory would see them tackle the rest of the season with renewed vigour.
Key men could be Carlisle’s pro and skipper Michael Slack and Cockermouth’s in-form leg spinner Matthew Siddall, who both had key roles in Cumbria’s NCCA Championship win against Northumberland this week.
Slack has hit 633 runs in the league so far and only has Nathan Waterston (Furness) ahead of him on 681. Siddall is the leading wicket taker with 32 to his name.
On Tuesday Slack scored an unbeaten 50 to lead his side to victory on a difficult Tynemouth wicket while Siddall took 11 wickets in the match.
With the weather set fair a cracking contest is predicted at Edenside where Carlisle will be at full strength including four Cumbria county players in Slack, Davidson, Watt and Stirling who will be in action on Sunday at Barrow against Cambridgeshire.
Cockermouth also have four county players, although only Matthew Sempill and Siddall will be on duty against Cambridgeshire. They are waiting for availability calls on two players.
As for tonight Carlisle have won both their games so far against Wigton and Keswick while Cockermouth also beat Keswick but stumbled to a last ball defeat at Sandair against Wigton.
Wigton will host Keswick at Lowmoor Road tomorrow night.
In the south group Haverigg are three from three and tonight play the return at Furness while Lindal Moor entertain Dalton.
Whitehaven host Workington tonight at the Playground trying to dent the visitors’ 100 per cent record in the competition.
As for the Cumbria League Premier Division third-placed Keswick need both teams to slip between now and the end of the season whilst going on a winning run themselves.
They certainly haven’t given up, lying third on 94 points – 16 behind Carlisle and eight behind Cockermouth. In turn they are 12 points clear of Furness in fourth.
Keswick go to Dalton on Saturday and Furness make the short trip to Haverigg – both opponents still looking over their shoulders at the relegation picture developing.
Whitehaven moved off the bottom a fortnight ago and have a home clash on Saturday with Workington while, who replaced them at the foot of the table, go to Wigton. Millom v Cleator completes the Premier Division programme.
