Cumbria League’s Premier Division top four all won to leave positions at the top unchanged with six weeks of the season remaining.
But there was a scare for second-placed Cockermouth on their way to victory at Whitehaven, while leaders Carlisle, Keswick and Furness won comfortably enough.
For while their rivals had few alarms Cockermouth rather limped to victory after bowling out Whitehaven for 51.
The hosts were always struggling, losing half of their side for 41 and the last five wickets for 10 more runs.
Opener Leo Sanczuk (18) was the only batsman in double figures as the League’s bottom side were bowled out in 29 overs.
Matthew Siddall, who just can’t stop taking wickets for club or county, took 6-9 from nine overs.
But if Cockermouth thought they were in for a trouble free afternoon to claim the points, they were in for a shock, losing half their side for 32.
That became 38-6 before skipper Matthew Sempill (9no) and wicket-keeper Sam Scully (7no) guided them over the finish line in 21 overs. Nobody reached double figures.
Andrew Cameron caused the initial panic, dismissing the first three batsmen and finishing a six over spell with 3-13.
Carlisle had no such problems as they retained the lead with an eight-wicket home win against Wigton.
The League leaders had won the toss and invited Wigton to bat first, reducing them to 73 all out in 44.4 overs with their former player Nico Watt taking 4-10.
Although Carlisle lost both openers for 12, the city side were carried to victory by sub pro Travis Townsend (47no) and James Dawson (19no) at 76-2.
Keswick stayed strongly in contention when they beat Cleator by five wickets at Fitz Park.
At 56-6 Cleator were rocking but veteran Ian Clark (32) led late resistance and with help from Owen Bell (13) saw the visitors through to 120 all out in the 41st over.
Glen Weightman, who took 4-18 off his 10 overs and Dan Gaskell who had 4-23 from 9.1 were the main causes of Cleator’s batting problems.
Keswick lost their first three wickets for 29 but were revived by Paul Hindmarch (37) and professional Risith Upamal (33) who put on 76 for the fourth wicket. The hosts reached 111-5 in the 24th over for victory.
Furness stayed on the fringe of the title battle with a 10 wicket win over struggling Dalton.
The home side were dismissed for 97 in 32 overs before the Furness openers Nathan Waterston (57no) and pro Saad Khan (30no) took the champions through to a 10-wicket win.
Egremont have rallied well and they completed a double over Haverigg to look safe from a return to Division One.
The West Cumbrians won the toss and invited their hosts to bat first, reducing them to 50-7 at one point.
Professional Sachin Jayawardina (21) played a patient innings and was ninth out after facing 102 deliveries. His defiance prompted resilience from tail-enders Kevin Rogan (29) and Connor Penrith (23) and they were eventually bowled-out for 127 in the 48th over. Opener Drew Postlethwaite had earlier made 28.
Shaun Bostock posed the main problems for his side taking 4-14 with Ellis Gribbin chipping in with 3-34.
Although Egremont lost Ollie Wilford early, there were solid contributions from Owen Thompson (27), Dave Raynor (25no), Matthew Hunter (20), Javon Grosvenor (19 – three fours and a six) and Mark Ponticelli (16no).
They reached victory at 129-4 in the 34th over to leave Haverigg looking over their shoulders at Dalton and Whitehaven.
On a low-scoring day most runs were accumulated at Millom where the home side beat Workington by 34.
There were solid contributions at the top of the Millom order as they made 238-5 in their 50 overs after electing to bat.
Professional Primosh Perara (58), Thomas Wilkinson (55), Michael Holmes (43no), Michael Wilson (23) and Robert Thompson (21) all enjoyed time in the middle.
Workington opener Jake Daniel (53) was sixth out at 136 after sharing in a first wicket stand of 49 with Matthew Goodall (28). At 150-8 the chase looked over but Lewis Hull (31no off 25 deliveries) offered brief hope until they were bowled-out for 204.
Perara was the most successful Millom bowler taking 4-40 from his 10 overs.
