Cumbria suffered a rare NCCA Trophy defeat when they lost a low-scoring game at Fenners against Cambridgeshire.
Only 120 runs were scored in the game, yet 19 wickets tumbled as Cumbria lost by one wicket.
They were bowled out for 59 in 34.1 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat.
Cambridgeshire didn’t find it much easier, limping over the finish line on 61-9 in 19.3 overs.
Third ball in Freddie Fallows went for a big hit and top edged a catch to the cover fielder – which was the start of a nightmare start.
Cumbria lost half the side for 12 as Sam Dutton tried a clip to leg and was beaten by the pace and clean bowled.
Ben Walkden hit a shot straight to deep square leg on the boundary and then skipper Matty Sempill couldn’t get his bat out of the way of a ball that rose sharply and he was caught at slip.
Debutant Jason Marshall was trapped leg before and at 12-5 it looked like Cumbria were heading for their lowest-ever score.
Greg Cameron seemed to have settled to the task but then went for a big shot and put up a catch to cover.
On the same score Finley Richardson tried a quick single to the wrong fielder and was run out with Cumbria now 30-7.
Ben Davidson had got his head down midst the carnage but after scoring seven from 54 deliveries he edged one to slip off spinner J Sykes.
Ed Moulton was out leg before and then Nico Watt and Sam Sharp put on the best partnership of the innings, 24 as they played some intelligent shots and ran well between the wickets.
Sharp was dropped at mid-wicket when Cumbria were on 44 but the innings didn’t close until they reached 59 when Watt was trapped leg before.
Wayne White had 4-11 and James Sykes took 3-12 as Cambridgeshire must have felt they were well on their way to the win.
In the end, though, they had to work hard for victory as Moulton took 6-20 from his 10 overs.
They had not made the disastrous start that Cumbria had but in search of 60 for the win they lost half the side for 29 and were later 42-7 and 49-8.
Key batsman was Adrian Pierson coming in at five who batted quietly and effectively and in the end guided Harrison Craig to victory.
They had lost their ninth wicket at 50 and a remarkable Cumbria victory seemed a distinct possibility but the last pair saw the hosts through with Pierson 20 not out from 40 balls.
