Cumbria opened their NCCA Championship programme at Jesmond against Northumberland but the day was reduced to 36 overs because of the weather.
The ground had been totally waterlogged on Saturday night and ground staff worked really hard to get it ready but a stubborn damp pitch on the bowler’s run-up delayed the start until 1.45pm.
There was also an early finish about 5pm because of heavy rain with Cumbria, who were put in to bat, on 108-4.
Ben Walkden went first in the fourth over for just three before Netherfield’s Reece Irving (26) and Carlisle’s Oliver Spedding (15) got the total past fifty.
But both perished at 53 and it was left to Stan McAlindon (Tynemouth) and Sam Dutton (Kendal) to push the score on to 86. Dutton went for 22 and McAlindon was joined by skipper Matty Sempill (Cockermouth) who saw it through until the rain ended play for the day.
McAlindon, a former Carlisle player who went on to play professionally for Durham in the County Championship, is re-building his career after suffering an injury.
He had made a promising start to his Durham career in 2022 but last season, because of that injury, didn’t play any List A cricket or feature in the T20 Vitality Blast.
Now he’s been given the opportunity for more game time with Cumbria in the NCCA Championship, while he also plays on Saturdays for Tynemouth in the North East Premier League, often opening the batting.
Forecast for today is better but Tuesday, the final day, looks to be a wash-out – unless the weather men have got it wrong again!
