Wigton took the honours in the weekend cricket with stunning victories over two of the top sides in the Cumbria League.
On Friday night they beat Cockermouth in a T20 clash at Sandair, and then followed up with a win over Keswick in the Premier Division clash at Fitz Park.
Wigton have been threatening to get their game together over the last few weeks and it blossomed with these back-to-back wins at the different formats.
Saturday’s loss in the League was a savage blow to Keswick’s title hopes, coming as it did a week after they had lost the big game with Cockermouth.
They looked to be on the way to a heavy defeat at one stage against Wigton and only a fine innings from Glen Weightman got them anywhere near.
In the end the visitors won by 11 runs after Weightman, coming in at 22-3, had made 88 in a patient knock of over two-and-a-half hours.
Wickets had fallen at a regular rate until Weightman found an able partner in Oscar Link (33) and they put on 72 for the eighth wicket to give Keswick a genuine chance of victory.
But the last three wickets went down on 209 – including Weightman who was run out by Lewis Little – and Wigton were home to their second successive win, and third of the season.
Dean Thomlinson (3-26) and Lewis Little (2-40) were the main wicket-takers for the visitors.
Earlier Wigton had made 220-6 in their 50 overs, building well on a solid opening partnership of 83 between John Reed (43) and Kieran Little (37).
Wicket keeper Matthew Reed added a lusty 50 off 44 balls; professional Chris Hodgson made 36 and Lewis Little was 24 not out.
Ben Sharp was the most successful Keswick bowler with 3-25.
At this early stage of the season it’s developing into a straight fight between Cockermouth and Carlisle who both won again yesterday.
Cockermouth stayed 100% from seven games by winning at Cleator by seven wickets while Carlisle overwhelmed Millom by 177 runs.
Cleator were inserted by the League leaders and despite good efforts from skipper Doug Hughes (45) and opener Ben Wishart (25) they were dismissed for 137 in 46.4 overs.
Ben, and his dad Steve are following the Wishart dynasty started by grandfather Alan, who it is good to hear is well and enjoying his cricket.
Six Cockermouth bowlers took a single wicket each while Ethan Hardie-Knight had 3-28.
Cockermouth reached victory on 138-3 after 30.1 overs led by skipper Matthew Sempill (43) and Alex Grainger (24).
Carlisle chose to bat first against Millom and all their batsmen got a start, with some going on better than others.
Alex Raybould (53), sub pro Hareen Budilla (42), Nico Watt (37no), Ben Davidson (32) and Mattie Brown (27) were the leading contributors in a total of 266-6. Declan Tyson was the most successful Millom bowler with 3-44.
Millom’s top order was blown away but from 10-4 they recovered through a stand of 61 between Tyson (18) and Callum High (35) before another collapse saw them bowled-out for 89.
Carlisle’s Cumbria county bowler Nico Watt took 4-23 from his ten overs while Budilla had 2-2 and Josh Stirling took 2-9.
Whitehaven are up to third in the table after their latest win, by six wickets against Haverigg.
Haverigg had chosen to bat but they were bowled-out for 140 in 45.3 overs with home skipper Steve Holliday (3-2) cleaning up after Josh Foster and Billy Thompson had both taken 2-30. Jordan Postlethwaite (31) offered most resistance for the visitors.
Professional Terance Warde (51no), Chase Young (33) and Holliday (33) saw to it that Whitehaven reached their target comfortably in 28.4 overs.
The fixture was actually in doubt after the club’s roller broke down and officials have said a big thank you to GAP Hire Solutions of Moresby whose generous loan of a roller enabled the game to go ahead.
Workington’s slump continued at Furness where they suffered a fifth successive defeat after they had opened the season with two wins.
They went down by 79 runs after the home side had been put in to bat and proceeded to reach 226-6 in their 50 overs.
Professional Matthew Kleinveldt (61) and opener Samson Storey (44) led the way and there were solid contributions from Mark Daly (32), Gareth Smith (26no) and Joe Amison (25).
Ben Scott did best with the ball for Workington with 2-14 from his seven overs.
Unfortunately Workington lost opener Jake Daniel after he was struck on the thumb while fielding and was unable to bat. On top of that Australian amateur Jack White had to miss out on hospital advice after taking a crack in the mouth at practice on Friday night.
Skipper Matthew Lowden (44) and wicket-keeper Sam Bates (29) put on 65 for the second wicket but after that it was just bits and pieces as Workington eventually were all out for 147.
Garry Thompson (4-19) was the most successful Furness bowler.
In the other game Egremont had their best total of the season, but still went down to defeat by 53 runs at Dalton.
They fielded first after Dalton won the toss and it was South African pro Kagiso Rapulana who dominated the home side’s innings.
Coming in at 48-1 he was still there at the end of the 50th over, scoring 111 not out of the Dalton total of 228-6. Skipper Joe Braund-Smith (29) and Dan Sharpe (29) gave most support with Egremont captain Coady Scott taking 3-54.
Losing overseas recruit Raghav Kupur cheaply and half the side back in the pavilion for 85 Egremont stumbled to 115-8 before being given some late hope.
Ellis Gribbin (61), which included five fours and four sixes, went on the attack and dominated a ninth wicket stand of 58 with Elijah Lee before the innings closed on 176.
Earlier Jack Hodgson (27) and Jon-Paul Dixon (25) had done their bit to bolster the Egremont reply.
Joss Edwards (3-23) and Lewis Woodend (3-35) were the most successful Dalton bowlers.
