Two club professionals figured prominently in the delayed Higson Cup ties which were played on Sunday.
Centuries for Cleator’s Dilan Jayalath and Workington’s Vishva Chathuranga saw those sides through the two first round ties.
It was a really thrilling finish at the JD Campbell Memorial Ground where the result hinged on a tight Duckworth Lewis format with Keswick short of their revised target by just one run.
In their 45 overs Cleator, who were put in to bat, reached 219-6 which was largely down to a fine innings from Jayalath.
He faced 85 balls and made 104 which included six fours and seven sixes with best support from his skipper Doug Hughes (25). They were also helped by Keswick bowling 26 wides in the 36 extras.
Professional Nisala Tharaka and Finn Turnbull both took 2-30 for Keswick.
The visitors mad a great start to their reply with the in-form Glen Weightman (51) and Will Atkinson (30) putting on 88 for the first wicket.
The wickets started to fall, there was a short interruption for rain, and it left Keswick needing 200 from 41 overs to go through.
They ended up on 199-8 with Turnbull (22) next best after the opening pair. There were also 21 wides from the Cleator bowlers of which Jayalath with 3-31 did best.
The other first round tie was never going to be as close after Workington rattled-up 284-7 in their 45 overs.
Professional Chathuranga hit 136 off 104 balls, hammering 12 fours and seven sixes. He figured in a stand of 111 with Matty Lowden (25) and then added 57 with Kieran Hull who went on to a 45.
In a lively cameo at the end Matthew Gorley struck 36 off just 12 balls and Workington had set their hosts an imposing target.
Joss Edwards stuck at it well for Dalton, finishing with 3-46.
Rob Jones (25) at the top of the order and professional Vaibhav Bhatt (22) were the main scorers early on but at 91-5 and both back in the pavilion it was a lost cause.
Callum Leach with 42 off 31 balls ended as Dalton’s highest scorer but they finished all lout for 138 off 34.3 overs.
Young Matthew Reed (4-51) and Lowden (3-25) were the leading Workington bowlers.
