Cumbria County Cricket Club was the only unbeaten team in the semi-final matches of the NCCA NV Play Trophy, writes Roxine A Beaumont-Sempill.
In the round robin stage Berkshire had lost to Devon, Oxfordshire to Buckinghamshire and Cheshire to Cumbria.
Sadly, Cumbria were unable to repeat that earlier result, despite replication of the venue – Keswick CC – and, to an extent, the conditions – start delayed by rain. Cheshire won by 27 runs, with exactly 3 overs to spare.
The light rain had stopped by the time the teams arrived. However, the ground was still wet, so the start was delayed by 90 minutes, and the overs reduced to 46 per side.
The sun appeared between the white fluffy clouds from time to time, increasingly so as the day went on. The stiff, cool breeze across the ground, from the football club side, was unrelenting.
Cheshire won the toss and elected to bat. Cumbria’s usual opening bowler, Sam Sharp, was on 12th Man duties, as a recent MRI scan revealed he has been playing with a broken wrist for a few weeks.
Also nursing several injuries, but nothing quite broken, Louis Backhouse (Kendal CC) opened the bowling.
His radar malfunctioned, with 4 balls called wide in his first over. A good warm-up for keeper Drew Postlethwaite (Barrow CC), returning from a broken finger and paternity leave.
After 6 overs Cheshire were on 32/0. Having switched to the river end, Skipper Michael Slack (Carlisle CC) caught and bowled Dan Newton (17 off 21) with the 2nd ball of his fourth over, then bowled Henry Dobson in the 11th over.
At the end of the 19th over the Cheshire were probably cheesed off, on a modest 49/2, not least because 4 overs in the previous 6 had been maidens: three by Ben Walkden (Newton-le-Willows CC) and one by Nico Watt (Carlisle CC).
Six balls later left-arm orthodox spinner Freddie Fallows (Kendal CC) dismissed Henry Murray (stumped).
Halfway through their innings Cheshire were still suffering, on 64/3. Fred Vaughan-Hawkins attempted to launch a delivery back over Vaughan-Hawkins’ head.
Instead, it flew off over the head of Slack at cover, who turned, raced backwards several yards, dived, threw out a hand and it stuck.
For the 29th over Slack unexpectedly threw the ball to Tom Fraine (Clifton Alliance CC).
Previously having performed for Cumbria just as a left-hand top order batter, Fraine ran in and launched the ball right-handed to Gennaro Reddy (who had scored Cheshire’s only 6), scattering his bails.
Exactly 8 overs later Fraine’s frequent batting partner Calum Rowe (Carlisle CC) also took a wicket with his first ball sending Harry Dearden back to the hutch thanks to a catch at cover by Max Winskill (Shaw CC).
Returning to the fray, Fallows had doughty Cheshire captain Sam Perry (65 off 109 in 163 minutes) stumped. 138/7 off 38.
Coming back into the attack to deliver his final two overs Slack had Andrew Jackson caught at cover by Winskill, then caught and bowled Will Street.
To finish off Cheshire’s innings Rowe created a catch at long on for Backhouse to dismiss Will Valentine (Cheshire’s second highest scorer, 22 off 24).
Slack posted the best bowling figures for Cumbria: 9 overs, 4 for 22, Economy 2.44. In his 10 overs Fallows took 3 wickets for 39 runs. Walkden was the most economical bowler at 2.33.
With his first wicket of the match Slack became the county’s leading wicket-taker in the One Day Trophy. He now has 58. The previous record was 54.
178 from 46 overs seemed to be a reasonably modest target. But with a slow pitch and variable bounce the hosts had their work cut out.
After losing Fallows to a catch at cover second ball, Rowe and Fraine managed to put on a partnership of 22 off 50 balls for the second wicket before Rowe and Walkden were bowled in successive balls.
Slack was bowled in the 13th and Fraine caught behind in the 15th. All these wickets were taken in a magnificent 10 over spell by opening bowler Andrew Jackson (10 overs, 8 maidens, 5 for 3, economy an unbelievable 0.30).
With Cumbria reeling on 34/5 from 19 overs, Matthew Sempill (Cockermouth CC) and Winskill set about rebuilding the innings.
The pair put on a very creditable 66 from 110 balls before Winskill (33 off 61) swept a delivery by spinner Isaac Brook into the hands of Dobson on the square-leg boundary.
Giving the innings the necessary acceleration Ed Wade (Clifton Alliance CC) and Sempill added another 41 from 40 balls before Wade (23 off 17, 2 X 4s, 1 X 6) went for another big shot and was bowled by Dobson.
When spinner Street bowled Postlwthwaite (who was attempting a sweep) and Sempill (who was attempting a simple push to the onside) Cumbria were on 142/9.
36 needed from a scheduled 27 balls. Against Suffolk at Furness last men standing (Watt and Backhouse) had scored the 8 needed to secure victory over Shropshire in the round robin, with 36 balls to spare.
Against Staffordshire at Carlisle in the quarter-final, last men standing (Sharp and Backhouse) had scored the 3 needed with 14 balls to spare. Backhouse strode to the crease and took guard.
Sadly, Watt was caught behind off Dobson last ball 43rd over to secure victory for the visitors. Sempill was the Sausages highest scorer (41 off 72, 1 X 6 in 111 minutes).
Good luck to Cheshire in the final against Berkshire at Copdock & Old Ipswichian CC on Sunday July 19. At least Cumbrian players and supporters are spared the 6 hours or so journey!
In limited-overs cricket Cumbria CCC have been punching above their weight for several years, latterly unassisted by players with a preponderance of first-class experience: Trophy finalists 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023; 2024 T20 Finals Day (rain aborted); 2025 T20 Super-12s; 2026 Trophy semi-finalists. Several NCCA teams would envy that record! So keep going, lads.
Cumbria’s next matches:
- The final round robin Dojo T20 Cup fixtures, start times 11am and 2.30pm, are on Sunday July 5 v Staffordshire at Carlisle CC.
- The NCCA Cluberly Cricket Championship begins on Sunday July 12 to Tuesday July 14 v Hertfordshire at Furness CC, starting at 11am.
