Since the Met Office predicted a wet Saturday afternoon, all eyes have been on the precipitation radar, and, unfortunately, the rain was the only winner, writes Ashley Tiffen.
With only two weekends of the season left, and with three teams still in contention to win the league, all eyes would be on league leaders Furness at home to second placed Keswick and the opportunity for Keswick, with their recent great form, to take the season to a last week climax.
If, and it is a big if, Keswick were to win at Furness, and Cockermouth, in third place, were able to win against Dalton, then the league would go down to the wire with all three still able to lift the trophy.
After an excellent season in what some consider a backwater of cricket, the players, club volunteers, league officials, umpires and those who take time to watch, deserve to have an exciting finale.
But the air has been let out of the ballon of excitement by Cumbria’s other claim to fame, the rain.
Although every match made a start, none of this weekend’s fixtures was to reach a conclusion, which leaves Furness 8 points ahead of Keswick and needing a win or 3 loser points against Cleator, lying 8th in the league and without a win since the first weekend of July.
For the record, at Furness, the home side were put into bat by Keswick and reached 116 for 5 in 31.1 overs before the rains came. Although Keswick were to make a start, the match was abandoned after only 4 overs of their response.
At Cockermouth, the home side were put into bat and made 117 for 5 wickets in 40 overs before the weather brought proceedings to a close.
At Millom, visitors Whitehaven put the hosts in and saw them reach 99 for 5 in 27 overs before the match was abandoned.
Workington, playing their final home match of the season, were put into bat by struggling Wigton and made 155 for 7 from 33 overs before proceedings were brought to a close.
In the final fixture, Egremont at home to Cleator made it a full house of winning tosses and asking their opponents to bat, seeing the visitors reach 124 for 3 wickets as the match was abandoned with 23 overs bowled.
While all those who made every effort to reach a result, especially the patient umpires, cricket lovers in Cumbria are left with a feeling of emptiness.
Next week, brings the season to a close with Furness travelling to Cleator where the smart money suggests they will wrap up the championship while what might have been a chance of top spot, Keswick will be at home to Cockermouth with second place at stake.
Whitehaven, pretty much confirmed at 4th, travel to confirmed wooden spoon holders, Egremont while Millom travel to Wigton and Dalton host Workington.
All matches start at noon.
