It’s virtually a two-horse race now in the Premier Division of the Cumbria League after the fourth v third clash was washed-out.
Cockermouth and Workington had to settle for four points apiece while the two teams above them both got in their games and won them.
Leaders Carlisle and their closest rivals Furness both had eight-wicket victories.
Wigton were put in by the champions Carlisle at Lowmoor Road and were quickly in trouble at 2-2. They found it difficult to build partnerships and at 41-7 were in desperate trouble.
Lewis Little (23) and Matthew Hodgson (14no) then figured in their biggest stand, worth 34 for the eighth wicket, before they were eventually reached 101-9 in the 40 allotted overs.
Nico Watt, a former Wigton player, took 3-14 from eight overs, while the other wickets were shared between Christ Blythe (2-7), Michael Slack (2-18) and Josh Stirling (2-23).
Watt also shone with the bat back on his old track and his unbeat6en 58 off 48 deliveries laid the base for Carlisle’s winning reply of 102-2 off 21.3 overs.
Furness were equally dominant in their win over struggling Haverigg who had elected to bat and were dismissed for 129 in 48.1 overs.
The Postlethwaite brothers Drew (22) and Jordan (20) were the main contributors for Haverigg while Samson Storey (4-24) and Faizan Ghumman (3-15) did best with the ball for Furness.
In reply Furness lost skipper Nathan Waterston (0) and Ghumman (4) but from that low point pro Yash Dubey (73no) and Cumbria county player Sam Dutton (45no) saw them through to victory at 131-2 off 24.2 overs.
It’s possible the title could be settled next Saturday – give or take a shock result or a cross county lopsided rain-off in the remaining fixtures as Furness entertain Carlisle.
The top four now looks like this with five games to go – Carlisle 137, Furness 134, Workington 117, Cockermouth 107.
It’s a three-way battle now to avoid the drop and the most significant result was Cleator’s derby win over Egremont which took them off the bottom.
Egremont, whose excellent professional Vathsal Govind has returned home, were put in to bat and were bowled-out in the last of the 50 overs for 165. Opener Ollie Wilford batted all the way through for an unbeaten 74 and best support came from David Raynor (23).
Doug Hughes (4-29) and David Blackwell (3-28) were the leading wicket-takers for Cleator.
In the end Cleator finished at 146-5 off 42.4 overs but that was enough to see them home on Duckworth Lewis.
Key batsman David Watson, who hasn’t played much cricket this summer, top scored with 59 while Graeme Lilly made 26.
Lindal Moor lost at Whitehaven and now the bottom three looks like this – Cleator 68, Lindal Moor 67, Haverigg 63.
Whitehaven were bowled-out for 171 in 48.5 largely due to 82 from professional Terance Ward with most support from skipper Stephen Holliday (20). Aseem Wadhwa took 4-39 for Lindal.
Only 28 overs were possible and in those Lindal Moor made 87-5 which was short of where they needed to be for the points.
Wadhwa top-scored with 32 for Lindal Moor while Tom de Gelder took 2-15 for Whitehaven and Billy Thompson had 2-18.
In the other game Keswick had a big win at Millom by 101 runs after electing to bat first. They made 224-7 in their 50 overs.
In-form Paul Hindmarch (68) and pro Risith Upamal (60) were the main contributors along with Arran Davies (26no). Dec Tyson (3-39) was the main wicket-taker for Millom.
Millom were never in a position to challenge after losing half the side for 43. There was a recovery, led by Callum High (41) and Graham Dawson (26) but the home side were eventually bowled-out for 123. Off spinner Dan Gaskell (3-23) was the most successful Keswick bowler.
