By his own admission this hasn’t been the best of seasons for Cockermouth’s senior player Gareth White.
He’s suffered a torrid time with the bat but he came good when Cockermouth needed to him yesterday with the match-winning innings against Whitehaven in the semi-final of the Higson Cup.
He arrived at the crease batting at number three after Cockermouth had lost Alex Grainger (11) at 22-1 as they chased a modest total of 120-9 set by Whitehaven.
Things started well as he and Reegan Scott added 55 for the second wicket before a worrying flurry of wickets.
Skipper Matty Sempill was dropped off the first and second balls he received and off the third was run out after a mix-up.
Tom Norman (0), Josh Brown (6) and Frazer Sealby (0) all went cheaply and at 101-6 it was Whitehaven who had some momentum to believe they still had a chance.
The key was White and with an able partner in Jacob Madegan the pair saw Cockermouth over the line at 124-6 after just 25.1 overs. Whitehaven pro Kevin Perera (3-21) from nine overs was the leading bowler for his side.
Whitehaven had opted to bat first and the majority of their runs came at the top of the order from openers Kian Larmour (16) and Steven Holliday (23) before Perera at three made 33.
But they slumped from 87-3 to 120-9 with just Jamie Bell (15) making double figures,
Left arm spinner Ethan Hardie-Knight took 4-29 from his nine overs, backed-up by Grainger (2-17), Madigan (2-24) and Sempill (1-4).
Cockermouth will now play Furness in the final on a date and venue to be announced.
