Keswick have emerged as strong contenders for the Cumbria League’s Premier Division title.
Beating champions Carlisle in the first match was a good way of introducing their potential this season on the opening day.
Rain prevented them following-up at Cleator but yesterday they added the scalp of another recent champions in Furness.
The south Cumbrians had won the toss at Fitz Park and elected to bat, but were always struggling.
It probably summed up their efforts when new professional Matthew Kleinveldt was out hit wicket against rival pro Risith Upamal for only 11.
Garry Thompson (27) and Ryasn Griffiths (21) were the only ones to make any sort of start to their innings and eventually were bowled out for only 107 in 39-3 overs.
Upamal returned his best League bowling figures of 5-18 off 9.3 overs.
Openers Will Atkinson (41) and Steven Hindmarch (32) put Keswick well on their way with an opening stand of 66 and Upamal (13no) and Cumbria county batsman Greg Cameron (18no) saw them through to a comfortable eight wicket victory in 33.2 overs.
Carlisle, despite that opening day defeat, are determined to complete a hat-trick of League titles before they tale-off to the Northern League.
Their second win of the season, following last week’s victory at Wigton, came at home to Cleator.
The visitors decided to bat when they won the toss and sub-pro, the ever dfependable Geeth Kumara (79) was largely responsible for the villagers making 152-9 in their 50 overs.
Opener Ben Wishart (25) and James Rogers (14) were the only other batsmen into double figures.
New recruit Zephania Arinaitwe (3-22) and pro Michael Slack (3-24) were the most successful Carlisle bowlers.
Slack (65no) adopted the sheet anchor role after sharing in the best stand of the game, 55, with opener Oliver Spedding (45) as they won with 153-4 in the 34th over.
Alex Scales (2-10) from four overs was the most successful Cleator bowler.
So where is the challenge to Carlisle and Keswick going to come from this year – Cockermouth, Workington….or emerging Whitehaven?
Well, the West Cumbrian pair met up at the Playground and it was a pretty emphatic win for Whitehaven, the first time they have beaten their local rivals for a number of years.
Home skipper Steve Holliday invited Workington to bat first when only captain Matthew Lowden (24) and opener Jake Daniels (23) showed any real resistance. A total of 40 from extras proved to be the biggest contribution to the Workington total of 129.
Lewis Keeler has been outstanding with the ball this season and he was in form again, taking 5-24 from his allotted ten overs.
He was ably supported by pro Terance Warde and Holliday who both took two wickets.
Whitehaven never looked in any real danger in reply as Nathan Carmichael (35), Warde (43no) and Kian Larmour (27no) saw the home side through to victory at 130-2 in under 28 overs.
Cockermouth had looked vulnerable after the absence of four key players but they have started the season with three straight wins.
The third came at Haverigg and was the tightest so far as they registered a four wicket win with five overs to spare.
Haverigg decided to bat after winning the toss and they produced a remarkable scorecard when bowled-out for 144 in 41.1 overs.
Professional Akshay Chandran made 95 of those runs and no other batsman got into double figures.
Chandran faced 120 deliveries, hitting 11 fours and two sixes, and was finally out stumped by Chadd Pearson trying to reach three figures in the grand manner.
Alex Grainger was the most successful Cockermouth bowler with 4-28 from his ten overs.
Skipper Matthew Sempill (51) and pro Shrikant Mundhe (24) put Cockermouth in a strong position but after slipping to 119-6 the visitors were carried to victory by Tom Norman (18no) and Pearson (10no).
Jordan Postlethwaite (2-19) did best with the ball for Haverigg.
Judging by early results two sides who might be struggling at the wrong end of the table this year are Egremont and Wigton.
So their clash at Gillfoot was clearly going to be an important game for both.
It was tight but Wigton emerged triumphant by 18 runs after a low-scoring contest.
Wigton won the toss and elected to bat and might have felt a little apprehensive after being bowled-out for 112 in 39 overs.
Professional Chris Hodgson (39) played a crucial innings for his side and the only other batsman in double figures was tail-ender George Spark (10).
Alex Hodgson took 4-21 for Egremont with Ellis Gribbin finishing with 3-19 – both from their ten overs.
For the third game in a row new overseas recruit Raghav Kuper (33) was Egremont’s top scorer but again he lacked support and opener Lee Cruden (12) was the only other player to post a double figure score.
The home side was bowled out for 94 after 28.2 overs.
Hodgson took 5-25 off his ten overs while he had great support from John Reed (4-20) off 9.2 overs.
The other game, the south Cumbrian derby between Dalton and Millom was the tightest of the day.
Dalton emerged as winners by just three runs in what proved a tense finish.
Robbie Wilson was run out to give Dalton their victory – a mixture of a good throw from Kagiso Rapulana and a risky run.
Earlier keeper Liam Curwen (20) and skipper Joe Braund-Smith (19) had been Dalton’s top scorers when they were bowled-out for 102 in 45.2 overs.
Wilson was Millom’s most successful bowler with 3-20 from 8.2 overs while there was good support from Declan Tyson (2-17), Paul O’Callaghan (2-19) and Braith Conner (2-22).
Tyson (24) was prominent in the Millom response when none of the front-line batsmen could get properly set as they fell agonisingly short.
Lewis Woodend bowled a very good ten over spell for 4-13 for Dalton who now have two wins following their promotion.
