No doubt about the match of the day in the Cumbria Cricket League’s Premier Division on Saturday.
It will be staged at Sandair where Cockermouth entertain Keswick – traditionally fierce rivals but there’s extra edge to this one.
Cockermouth have won five out of five to sit proudly on top of the table when pre-season indications were they might struggle after the loss of four key players.
As for Keswick, tipped by Michael Slack captain of champions Carlisle as their most serious rivals, they are 100% from four games with the fifth being rained-off.
Cockermouth have lost professional Shrikant Mundhe for a month as he competes in a T20 tournament back in India – ironically after a superb innings of 155no against Whitehaven.
They booked Chirag Khurana as sub pro last week and he took 4-1 from six overs, five of which were maidens. With a knock of 29 as well Cockermouth were more than satisfied with his contribution and the Bacup pro will be back on Saturday.
He’s good friends with Mundhe, most of Bacup’s games are on a Sunday and he’s happy to stand in for him. Following his Cockermouth debut, he scored 158no for Bacup on Sunday against Rawtenstall, the fourth highest innings in the history of the club.
Last year, his first as Bacup pro, he had an outstanding season hitting 953 runs at 68.1, including four centuries and four half centuries.
He also took 64 wickets with his off spin, including six five-wicket hauls with a Lancashire League Division Two best of 8-39 at Accrington. Cockermouth seem well covered over the next month.
Keswick have looked impressive this season, particularly after that opening day win at Carlisle, and with added commitment from the squad (Glen Weightman turned out on Saturday instead of for Cumbria rugby union) they look certain to be involved in the battle for the title.
One thing’s certain, however, in that Carlisle are not going to give up their crown lightly – especially as they look to make it three in a row.
The loss of talisman skipper/pro Michael Slack was successfully negotiated last week with the inclusion of South African Blayde Capell who took 3-22 and top-scored with 37 as Carlisle beat Furness.
This week they have recruited the 36-year-old Australian all-rounder Dan Salpietro who has returned to England this year with the Lancashire League side Lowerhouse.
In 2010 he was professional for Bolton Association side Atherton hitting over 1,000 runs and falling just four wickets short of doing the double.
An off-spinner, talented batsman and excellent fielder Salpietro took all ten Rawtenstall wickets for Rishden in his first season as pro there in 2012.
In 2013, Salpietro topped the league batting averages, hitting 1172 runs at 68.94 with three centuries and six half centuries. He also picked up 62 wickets at 19.0.
After leaving Rishton he starred for Norden, where he won back-to-back Central Lancashire League titles including a league and cup double in 2014.
Salpietro, who has represented Victoria at Under 19 and Under 23 level, has subsequently played for Victoria and Adelaide Strikers.
They go to Haverigg this week and will feel confident of continuing their run – four straight wins after the defeat to Keswick have moved them up to second in the table.
Haverigg will desperately want to atone for last week’s debacle against Egremont when they were skittled for just 32 on their own wicket to give the Gillfoot side their first victory.
Egremont will be encouraged by that win but disappointed that they have been penalised a point for not having a scorer – a basic necessity and one that will illicit little sympathy.
Perhaps more sympathy will go the way of Cleator who were also docked a point, but for a slow over rate against Furness. The hosts were piling up the runs – 300 plus on a really hot day and the Cleator bowlers and fielders were really toiling.
Egremont have a Copeland derby tomorrow when they entertain Whitehaven while Cleator travel to Workington.
Whitehaven, looking good outsiders until they lost at Cockermouth two weeks ago, did return to winning form last week at the expense of Wigton and will be geared-up for the derby.
Egremont surprised their neighbours last year and with Raghav Kupar, their overseas recruit showing his prowess with the ball (5-9) at Haverigg, to add to another top-scoring role as batsman, it will be interesting to see how he goes.
Whitehaven, who had a great day hosting the MCC last Sunday, delighted club members and the rest of the cricketing fraternity when they named their pavilion in memory of Arthur Lamb, who sadly passed away last year at far too young an age.
Cleator will face a Workington side at the Valentine Ground which has lost three in a row, and has torpedoed their title ambitions.
Again it’s an intriguing tussle between two sides currently unable to put a win on the board.
Last week Cleator lost a low-scoring game at home to Millom who were winning for the first time while Workington were well beat at Keswick.
This week Millom face a south Cumbrian derby when they host Furness, another game with little nuances.
Nathan Waterston left Furness during the winter to take on the role as club professional at Millom.
Furness also lost his opening partner Sam Dutton to Kendal and have only one win so far. Indeed it’s only one win apiece and Millom lead their rivals by five points – lying sixth while Furness are ninth.
The other match sees Wigton, desperate for points to climb out of the relegation zone, at home to Dalton, anxious to put last week’s first defeat of the season against Cockermouth behind them.
Wigton showed a lot of promise last season which hasn’t been repeated so far while Dalton, promoted from Division One, have produced enough already to suggest that they are here to stay.
