Carlisle, the reigning Cumbria League champions, finally got their season up and running with a comfortable home victory over Keswick.
Washed-out like most of the other teams on the opening day Carlisle romped to victory with eight wickets and 16.2 overs to spare when they hosted their Lakes rivals.
Keswick had batted first and were bowled-out for 131 with much of the resistance coming from Will Atkinson and professional Risith Upamal who both scored 26.
Carlisle professional Michael Slack, now seemingly fully recovered from a niggling groin strain, took 3-22 while Josh Stirling had 2-24 and Johnny Westgarth took 2-3.
Although they were 19-2 early on Carlisle were carried to victory bby an unbroken third wicket stand of 113 by Slack (54no) and Ben Davidson (45no).
Carlisle’s main rivals last year Cockermouth have had a troubled start to the new season through pitch issues and it didn’t get any better for them in the opening game at Whitehaven.
The Whitehaven fielding was top class and included a superb run-out by Terence Warde of his fellow pro Sameera Sadamal while the bowling was exceptionally tight.
Whitehaven made 164-9 led by Leo Sanczuk (39), captain Stephen Holliday (24) and Warde (20). For Cockermouth Alex Grainger took 3-10 and Sam Sharp had 3-46.
Gareth White made 36 for Cockermouth but no-one could stay long enough with him against some tight Whitehaven bowling and they were dismissed for 135 in 44.3 overs. Jonathan Stewart took 3-23.
Workington continue to lead the table by virtue of being the only winners on opening day and following up with a three wicket win over Millom at the Ernest Valentine Ground.
David Pearce took 3-17; overseas amateur Davis Mills had 2-17 and Kristian Moffat took 2-21 as Millom could only manage 105 of which extras top-scored with 29 – no less than 23 of them wides.
Workington didn’t find it easy in reply and it needed a carefully compiled 42no from Mills to see the home side over the line with three wickets to spare.
Furness expect to be making a big play this year to regain their title and started positively with a big win over Wigton.
The returning Mark Daly after missing 2022 recovering from injury led the way with 56 as Furness rattled-up 258-7. Liam Curwen chipped in with 52 as the pair put on 83 for the fifth wicket. County player Simon Dutton scored 36.
Wigton could only manage 109 in reply with opener Kieran Little doing best on 23.
Furness used seven bowlers all of whom took at least a wicket with the best returns from Josh Shaw (2-11) and Sam Strong (2-13).
Cleator, beaten at home by Workington last week, collected their first win when they beat Haverigg by six wickets.
Veteran Ian Clark (3-17), Tom Sharpe (3-26) and David Blackwell (3-39) combined to bowl out Haverigg for 112. The visitors owed much of that to Drew Postlethwaite and Dale Graham who both scored 28.
Cleator knocked off the runs in 33.5 overs with new professional Abdul Muzzamill leading the way with an unbeaten 35.
Former Keswick professional Geeth Kumara, playing as a sub pro for Haverigg, took 2-23.
Lindal Moor were the day’s other winners when they beat visitors Egremont by six wickets.
Egremont were biowled-out for 115 in 35.4 overs with new professional Vasthan Govind top-scoring on 32 while Ryan Gilmour (2-4) and Edward Waind (2-14) did best of the six Lindal bowlers who took wickets.
Lindal reached 119-4 for victory and maximum points in 32.4 overs.
