Workington and Carlisle produced a cracking contest which ebbed and flowed as the Valentine Ground staged the Cumbria League Premier Division’s match of the day.
Champions Carlisle got home by two wickets but stay third in the table with leaders Workington overhauled as a result of their defeat by new table-toppers Furness.
As things stand two games short of the half-way point of the season it’s desperately tight at the top with Furness leading the way on 77 points followed by Workington 76 and Carlisle 75 with Cockermouth desperately hanging on in fourth on 65.
John Walsh reports on the big game below:
Furness went top with a comfortable eight wicket win against Keswick after they had crashed their way to 198-2 in just 30 overs.
Although they lost Lewis Gribbin early, professional Yash Dubey (65) and Nathan Waterston (77no) – both at a run-a-ball – put on 85 for the second wicket. Waterston and Sam Dutton (36no) saw the job through with an unbroken stand, also worth 85.
Keswick had several batsmen get a start without being able to go on to a big score as they made 193-7 in their 50 overs.
James McGown (39), Will Atkinson (35), Risith Upamal (29), Ben Sharp (21) and Scott McGown (20) all got set but couldn’t give the innings more impetus.
The wickets were shared around with Samson Storey (2-18), Josh Shaw (2-24) and Garry Thompson (2-24) the most successful.
At the wrong end of the table Wigton moved off the bottom for the first time this season when they beat Cleator by 55 runs.
There were plenty of runs at the top of the order for the Lowmoor Road side led by openers Kieran Little (74) and Flynn Manihera (59) while Matthew Reed (86) top-scored with a remarkable knock. It only took 59 deliveries and included five fours and four sixes.
John Reed hit 22 and Wigton were also helped by 41 extras as they closed on 313-8. Doug Hughes was the most successful Cleator bowler with 3-47.
Darren Clark (69)m and professional Abdul Muzammil (49) figured in a good second wicket partnership to give Cleator hope but when they went there was only support from Hughes (20) in the middle order.
Wicket keeper Tom Whitfield-Bott (25no) and Joe Fearon (21no) rallied Cleator towards the end but they were always going to finish short, ending on 255-9.
John Reed took 5-39 for Wigton with Cameron McGuinness having3-57 – both from their full complement of ten overs.
Cockermouth are still playing catch-up after that early season defeat at Whitehaven but they remain on the tails of the top three.
Ryan Carruthers made the difference in the home game with Millom or they might have been in trouble.
He scored 125 off 134 deliveries, hitting 18 fours and a six, which was a major contribution to the Cockermouth total of 228-8. The only other batsmen in double figures were Matthew Sempill (26) and professional Sameera Sadamal (23).
Braith Conner (2-46) and Dec Tyson (2-47) were the leading Millom bowlers.
Alex Grainger (4-28) and Sadamal (3-50) had the best returns for Cockermouth when Millom were bowled-out for 152 in 43.3 overs.
Sub pro Pramod Madawantha (32), skipper Graham Dawson (24) and Anthony Foster were the main contributors for the visitors.
Whitehaven came out on top in the west Cumbrian derby beating Egremont by 63 runs at the Playground.
The home total of 206-8 had been built on a solid opening partnership of 88 between Leo Sanczuk (46) and captain Stephen Holliday (37) with Josh Foster (26) and Jonathan Stewart (26) adding their support later.
Alex Hodgson was the most successful Egremont bowler as he took 4-34.
Egremont relied heavily on opener Matt Hunter (62) and professional Vathsal Govind (27) who put on 49 for the second wicket, but once they were parted wickets fell at regular intervals. Hunter stayed defiant until he was seventh out and the end was soon in sight as no other batsman reached double figures.
Holliday enjoyed a good match, finishing with 4-47 from his ten overs, as Egremont were bowled-out for 143 in 41.3 overs.
Haverigg now occupy bottom spot in the table, three points behind Wigton, after they lost by 28 runs at home to Lindal Moor.
The visitors were led by Aseem Whadwa (101) with plenty of support at the top of the order and made 275-7.
Openers Paul Wilcock (51) and Callum McDougall (33) got them away well before Ryan Gilmour (40) and Edward Waind (25) chipped in ahead of Whadwa batting at five. His century was scored off just 67 balls and included 12 fours and two sixes.
Jordan Postlethwaite (4-48) was the most successful Haverigg bowler off his 10 overs.
Haverigg also had plenty of good contributions at the top of the order but fell behind the required rate and in their 50 completed over had only reached 247-6.
Dale Graham was 75 not out with Drew Postlethwaite (43), Jordan Postlethwaite (31) and Gavyn Chesher (20) supporting.
