If there was ever any doubts that it was going to be a two horse race for the title – those were dispelled on Saturday.
For while the two leading sides in the Cumbria League’s Premier Division won, the teams lying third and fourth were both beaten.
In fact it was second-in-the-table Cockermouth who virtually put paid to Whitehaven’s chances when they beat them by 23 runs at the Playground.
It was a potential banana skin for Cockermouth but they came through the test well to stay in pursuit of champions Carlisle, still 10 points behind.
But it needed a gritty effort from the returning Gareth White to get them over the line after he had retired hurt with a hamstring problem and then returned to complete his innings. He finished his innings with a runner and was able to add 19 precious runs before he was out for 74.
Next best was Tom Norman (29) and then skipper Matthew Sempill (22) but Cockermouth were seriously helped by extras – all 34 of them, 28 of which were wides – as they reached 207.
Chase Young, who very rarely bowls, took 3-13 and Josh Foster had 3-39 as Whitehaven were later to rue all those wides.
Whitehaven’s big guns Young (16) and pro Terance Warde (2) went cheaply and Whitehaven needed skipper Stephen Holliday (46), Matthew Harrison (29) and Nathan Carmichael (22) to get them moving again but they were going to fall short and were bowled-out in the last over for 184. Gabriel Drimmie took 4-51 from 9.1 overs.
Carlisle appeared to have the easier task against bottom side Egremont and so it proved as they won comfortably by nine wickets.
Egremont were invited to bat first and the last man was run out off the final ball of the innings but they had only accumulated 130 in those 50 overs.
Overseas recruit Raghav Kapur top-scored with 31 with Coady Scott (28) and Owen Thompson (18) the only real support.
Nico Watt took 3-13 and the regularly returning sub pro Daniel Salpietro had 3-33.
Carlisle reached their target in 20.1 overs for the loss of Zephania Arinaitwe (42) with Oliver Spedding (54no) and James Dawson (33no).
Keswick lost ground on the leading two when they were beaten at home by Millom after falling 16 runs short.
Millom chose to bat first and reached 215-5 in their 50 overs led by pro Nathan Waterston (111no) who hasn’t looked back in the run-scoring department since becoming a father for the first time.
His side weren’t doing that well at 106-5 but Waterston found a willing ally in Michael Holmes (42no) as they shared in an unbroken stand of 109 to see them through the 50 overs.
Keswick might have considered themselves favourites to knock-off the runs but they could only manage 199-8 by the close of their overs.
Paul Hindmarch (76) and pro Risith Upamal (55) looked highly capable when they were together but it wasn’t enough in the end. Declan Tyson took 3-30 from his ten overs.
Workington ended the long wait for a win when they travelled to Dalton and came back with the points – their first success since the second week of the season.
Put in to bat the Workington innings revolved around the second wicket partnership of 131 between Australian Jack White (77) and skipper Matthew Lowden (71).
There was little else as the west Cumbrians were bowled out for 207 off the penultimate ball of the final over. Mark Hollier took 2-11 off two overs.
After an opening stand of 59 between skipper Joss Edwards (42) and Rob Jones (23) Dalton rather lost their way and wicket-keeper Liam Curwen (35) was the only other player in double figures.
They were eventually bowled out for 134 in the 39th over with White capping an excellent game by taking 4-26.
Workington’s victory suggests now it will be a battle between Haverigg and Egremont to avoid the drop.
For as Egremont lost at Carlisle, so Haverigg were losing at home to Wigton after they had chosen to bat first.
They only managed to occupy the crease for 31.1 overs and in that time were bowled-out for 87.
Opener Sam Adams top-scored with 31 and the only other batsman to reach double figures was down the order where Kevin Rogan was 15 not out. Wigton pro Chris Hodgson returned the remarkable figures of 5.1-4-5-5.
It wasn’t a nailed-on win for Wigton as they lost seven wickets in getting there in 30 overs. It needed a steadying knock of 36no from Lewis Little to see them over the line.
Furness have continued to climb up the table seeking their usual top four spot and they are now within striking distance of Whitehaven and Keswick after they won by 109 runs at Cleator.
The Furness innings was ignited by a third wicket stand of 152 between Samson Storey (103) and professional Matthew Kleinveldt (99) as they eventually reached 280-6 in their 50 overs.
Cleator needed their pro Rishabh Tiwari to come-off if they were to challenge that total but he went for 28 and it was left to James Rogers (54) to provide some serious opposition. But Cleator were bowled-out for 171 in 48.5 overs, greatly helped by 40 extras of which 37 were wides. Kleinveldt took 3-13.
