Summer came, accompanied of course, by a splash of rain limiting the overs available, but, with the thermometer at a yearly high, there was plenty of interest across all of the grounds, writes Ashley Tiffen.
Cockermouth entertained league leaders Keswick in what some were saying was a ‘must win’ for the home side.
Winning the toss, as expected home skipper Matthew Sempill chose to bat and was rewarded with a defendable total despite losing both openers with only 21 on the board after 9 overs.
Skipper Sempill led from the front alongside professional Chirag Khurana as they plundered 167 for the 3rd wicket.
Khurana took the attack to the Keswick bowlers as he hit three figures from only 78 balls only to fall after adding only 2 more caught behind (Oscar Link) off the bowling of the impressive James McGown.
Sempill was to follow soon after for 60, caught by professional Raveen Yasas off McGown who was to go on and claim all 5 wickets to fall for 15 runs in 7 overs (average 3 per wicket and an economy rate of 2.14) as the home side’s innings ended on 212 for 5 off 38 overs as the scene was set for a Keswick run chase.
However, the run chase suffered early casualties as Keswick lost opener Stephen Hindmarch first ball, caught Gareth White (one of 4 catches for him making up for his failure with the bat) off the bowling of Joshua Brown, and Yasas, with only 1 on the board, LBW Sempill.
Glenn Weightman and Paul Hindmarch then tried to put the wheels back on the innings with opener Weightman hanging around until the score reached 102, eventually falling for a half century and Paul Hindmarch for 28 from 25 balls.
The innings then petered out with Alex Grainger making up for his batting failure with 4 wickets for 7 off 5 overs.
Skipper Sempill took 3 for 39 and Ethan Hardie-Knight chipped in with a pair for 20 runs, as the visitors ended on 113 all out in 27.2 overs, handing the 95 run victory and 10 points to open wide the title chase.
However, Keswick’s 1 bonus point was significant in one respect, leaving them a smidgen ahead of Cockermouth at the end of the day.
Furness, hot on the heels of the morning leaders were put in at home by visitors Cleator who then watched the opening pairing strike 116 for the first wicket in 21 overs before Samson Storey fell for 58.
This left the inform Dominic Hendricks to power on to 78 not out from 72 balls aided and abetted by 25 from wicketkeeper Thomson and a rapid 21 from Ryan Griffiths in only 10 balls as the innings ended at the weather reduced 35 over mark with an impressive 234 on the board at over 6.5 runs per over.
In reply, Furness were in no mood to hang around as they rattled through the Cleator batsmen returning 4 of them to the pavilion each without scoring as they were all out for 93 in 24.1 overs.
Only Adam Megan (20) and Alex Scales (24) reached the 20s while Josh Shaw took 4 wickets for 25 and Garry Thompson took 3 for a miserly 17. Tom Lamb (2 for 26) and Ryan Griffiths (1 for 7) added the others for a comprehensive 141 run victory.
At Gilfoot Park, home side Egremont, without a win this season, won the toss, put in neighbours Whitehaven and they were soon reaping the benefits. Only visiting professional Terance Warde was able to cope with the opening salvo which saw Coady Scott take 2 wickets for 12 from his opening 5 overs.
Warde was to make a sparkling 76 before being caught by Mark Ponticelli off the bowling of Taran Marwah while Jamie Bell struck an even more sparkling 54 from 45 balls before Marwah struck for his second wicket. A late flourish by Jonathan Stewart (34 not out) left the visitors on 170 from 34 overs and a target to bowl at after a lean day for home side top order.
Marwah was the leading wicket taker with 3 for 28 while Coady Scott chipped in with 2 for 32.
But the early afternoon optimism was to be undermined by the failure of the Egremont top order with, from the top six batsmen, only Marwah with 18 struck double figures while the others could only muster 4 runs between them.
It was left to Ollie Wilford to give the home fans something to cheer as he plundered 39 with Luke Williams hitting 25 not out as Egremont ended on 136 for 9 from their 34 overs making Whitehaven work hard for their 34 run win.
At Millom, the home side put in visitors Wigton, and they were soon amongst the wickets. Only skipper Christopher Hodgson was able to fend off the opening salvo from Paul O’Callaghan (2 for 9 off 6 overs) and the equally frugal Zac Mawdsley who conceded only 13 from his opening 5 overs.
The skipper’s efforts came to an end when he was dismissed for 30 caught Nathan Waterson from Joshua Mackie’s second ball but a spirited late charge from Jonathan Person (18) and Dean Thomlinson (26) gave the visitors some hope as they finished on139 all out in 37.4 overs.
On the bowling front, in addition to the opening pair, Callum High took 2 for 27 and Robbie Wilson took 2 for 20 in an economical 8 overs.
That hope was quickly dashed by Nathan Waterson who, presumably, had a table booked at his favourite restaurant as he smashed 71 from 96 balls, including seven 4s and two 6s to lead his side to a 7 wicket victory ending on 138 for 3, their target having been reduced by 1 due to weather delays.
The three wickets that fell were shared by Wigton bowlers Cameron McGuinness, John Reed and Jonathan Pearson.
Finally, at The Ernest Valentine Cricket Ground, there was to be nail biting finish as Dalton looked to deliver a late blow to the home side hopes while Workington were claiming wickets regularly.
Winning the toss, Workington took to the crease first but lost wickets with some frequency with only skipper Jake Daniel (24) and Adam Chambers (25) breaking the 20 run barrier as they struggled to 160 all out in 40 overs.
For the visitors, Lewis Bayman had season high figures of 6 for 56, albeit at a rate of 7 runs per over, with Joss Edwards chipping in with 2 for 25.
In reply, Dalton started well with openers skipper Joe Braund Smith making 35 and Tavis Fraser with 17 to setting a solid platform but although Adam Hunter chipped in with 24 and Liam Curwen with 22, wickets were lost with regularity.
That said, they tried to keep up with the run rate, with Lewis Bayman striking a late 6, but it was a bridge too far and they fell just short on 150 all out but claiming the full 5 bonus points for their efforts, points that would keep them ahead of Workington in the table.
Highlights of the day: Cockermouth’s Chirag Khurana with his 102, Keswick’s James McGown taking all 5 Cockermouth’s wickets to fall, Dominic Hendrick’s 78 from 72 balls as Furness took top spot, or Nathan Waterson’s imperious 76 setting the foundation for Millom’s victory.
Cockermouth’s victory over the morning’s league leaders opened the door for Furness to charge in front with 66 points, followed by Keswick on 60 with Cockermouth closing the gap with 59.
Behind these 3, Whitehaven have 53, Dalton 46, Millom 43, Workington 42 and Cleator with 40.
At the foot of the table Wigton on 23 have an eight-point cushion, courtesy of their solitary win, over winless Egremont who have 15.
Next weekend, league leaders travel to Whitehaven for what appears to be the standout tie of the day.
Cockermouth travel to Cleator and Keswick are at home to Workington while Millom entertain Egremont and Dalton face the long trip north to Wigton.
And, as a special treat, Sunday sees the semi-finals of the Higson Cup when Cleator host Millom and Keswick have a chance to get revenge for this weekend’s defeat as they see Cockermouth visiting the picturesque Fitz Park ground.
All matches scheduled to start at 1pm each day.
