As can be expected for an April start, it was a cool but fine afternoon across the county as the cricketer’s whites were dusted off, the pitches were rolled, cut and marked out and the crowds were ready for another season snoozing to the sound of leather on willow.
The highlight of week one would undoubtedly be a fine victory by the home side at the Raymond Denham Cricket Oval in Cockermouth, where the home skipper Matthew Sempill led by example.
Batting first, Cockermouth got off to a solid start with Grainger carving out a fine 74 and club stalwart White overcoming the early accurate Whitehaven attack to reach 21 before a rush of blood by skying a short one from Stewart.
This brought Sempill to the crease who settled into a century with 12 fours and 3 sixes as he made 117 before being sharply run out. The innings ended on 286 for 5 off their 50 overs.
In reply, Whitehaven were determined to make a fist of it with some tidy innings from Warde (38), Foster (25) and Lamour (36) but they were never up with the rate and were all out for 172 in 43.1 overs).
Sempill rounded off his fine start to the season by bagging a ‘fifer’ with 5 wickets for 3 from 8.1 overs.
Elsewhere, expected title front runners, Furness, claimed a home 10-point win against southern neighbours, Millom.
Batting first, the home side accumulated 188 for 8 in their 50 overs with Lewis Gribben kicking off with a solid 36 before being bowled by Tyson with Thompson (31) contributing to a 54 run opening partnership.
Apart from Hendricks providing the backbone of the innings with 39, the home side were held by some spirited bowling led by Tyson with figures of 3 for 25 off 10 overs and Waterson who allowed only 23 runs for his 10 overs.
In reply, Millom, regularly lost wickets as they were all out for 145 in 43.3 overs, with Mackie (34), Captain Dawson (24) and Robert Thompson (23) giving the home side some headaches.
Peter Lawson led the bowling line for the home side with 4 wickets for 21 runs in his 10 overs and Harris Woods cleaning up at the end with 2 wickets for 6 runs in only 1.3 overs.
The other form team from last season, Keswick, made the long trip to Dalton but were rewarded with a 10-point win thanks to a mixture of extremely tight bowling from Paul Hindmarch who allowed only one boundary, a 4, from his six overs, collecting the wicket of pro Lahiru Dilshan, and taking 3 catches.
For the home side, only Daniel Sharpe worked the scorers with a spirited 30 including two 4’s and a six as they reached 121 all out in 39.2 overs.
In reply, Keswick dusted off the winning total reaching 123 in 24 overs with contributions from Stephen Hindmarch (42NO), Pro Lesiba Ngoepe (25) and Paul Hindmarch rounding off his day with 30 not out.
At Lowmoor Road, Wigton fought hard to overcome Egremont to gain their win. Batting first the visitors had some early batting success with skipper Scott reaching 31 before being caught behind off Reed with the same combination dismissing Marwah for 54.
Only Alex Hodgson with 37, which included 2 sixes, made any meaningful contribution before the last 5 wickets fell for 6 runs as they reached 163 all out in their 50 overs.
The home bowling, perhaps showing early season rustiness, sprayed it about with 12 wides with Reed getting 3 wickets for 36 runs off his 10 overs.
Finally, at the Ernest Valentine Cricket Ground in Workington, the home side gained 10 points against local rivals Cleator.
The visitors batted first but lost early wickets to be 38 for 4 before Tom Sharpe (54) and captain Douglas Hughes (32) steadied the ship with a partnership of 95 as they reached 137 for 6 from their 50 overs. Pick of the bowlers, Hamish James with 2 wickets for 22 from his allotted 10.
In reply, Callum Sutton led the line with a fine 42 not out aided by skipper Daniel (31) and wicket keeper Bates adding to his 3 catches (25) as they reached their target in 31.1 overs.
