Last updated at 16:31, Monday, 05 July 2010

WITH Keswick triumphing and Furness having to settle for a winning draw, the reigning champions’ lead in the Premier Division has been cut to two points.

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In Division One, leaders Duddon SC were beaten by Lindal Moor, and second-placed Wigton lost to Appleby Eden, so the promotion race becomes much tighter.

Furness batted first at home to Carlisle and with 91 from Mike Gadsden and 77 from opening partner Glenn Capstick, and good support from the top order, Furness went to tea at 276 for 4.

Marc Brown, 29, and Alex Raybould 34, gave Carlisle a steady start but it soon became apparent Carlisle could only try to avoid defeat. A good spell from spinner Jordan Buchanan, 3 for 29 in nine overs, gave Furness hope of a win, but Carlisle hung on for the draw at 152 for 8.

Millom were at Vickerstown who batted first but found the Millom attack difficult to handle on a bowler-friendly track.

Millom skipper Simon Bickerstaffe, who at one time bowled six consecutive wicket maidens, went on to his career best with 8 for 26, as the Walney team were all out for 102, Andy Ireland getting 31 of those.

In reply Millom pro Majeed Jehangir went early, but with a steadying 23 from Ryan Brown, they went to a comfortable win at 102 for 4, Mikey Wilson finishing the game with a big six hit.

Keswick were at Cleator and were looking to avenge their surprising defeat in the Higson Cup. Cleator took first knock and lost wickets regularly and were all out for 117, Chris Quin top scored with 36. Stuart Dowson took 3 for 14.

In reply Keswick helped their championship hopes,by going to an easy win at 120 for 4, professional Paul Hindmarch ending on 55 not out.

At home to a weakened Haverigg side, Whitehaven’s batsmen had a good day and with 82 from Andrew Kelly and 71 from professional Ryan Butterworth, Whitehaven were 233 for 4 when overs ran out.

Most of Haverigg’s top order got a start but failed to go on to a good score, until Steve Evans, batting at number six, put the Whitehaven attack to the sword but when he was out for an excellent 95, the Haverigg tail failed to wag and the Poolsiders were all out for 194. Habib Baloch took 4 for 45, and Whitehaven had 18 points.

In an amazing game where 500 runs were scored and only nine wickets taken, Penrith had first knock against Cockermouth on the Fitz Park ground. Penrith pro Upul Fernando, 85 not out, and Andrew Hall with 67, saw Penrith go to tea at 249 for 2.

Cockermouth went for the runs from the first over and took the eighteen points going to a great win at 251 for 7, Ryan Carruthers 69, and Chris Hodgson 65 were the main contributors.

Penrith’s Marcus Todd continued his excellent season with the ball, taking 5 for 48. Workington entertained Kirkby and made the villagers toil as they rattled up 301 for 4. Andrew Reed with 96, Callum Moffat 71, and Steve Benson 44, were top scorers.

Kirkby were never in the hunt as they were all out for 139 of which Mike Fugler made 49. Off spinner Simon James took 3 for 9, and Matthew Gorley 3 for 43 for Workington.

Division One leaders Duddon SC took first knock in their home game with Lindal Moor but could only put 123 on the board at tea, Joe Alexander scoring 27, Jake Cumberbatch taking 3 for 27. In reply the Moor were indebted to Colin Knight’s 64 as they went to the win at 127 for 6.

Dalton batted first in their home game against Cleator II and with consistent batting down the order led by Justin Quint with 59, Dalton were 202 for 7 in their 50 overs. Veteran Alan Wishart took 3 for 33 for Cleator.

In reply Cleator II made a poor start, the first five batsmen making 24 between them. Mark Ponticelli steadied the innings and made a battling 51 but his team went to 110 all out, with John Bell taking 4 for 18 in nine overs.

At home to Lanercost, Millom II’s openers Danny Fallows 28, and Tom Wilkinson, 21, made a good start and when skipper Michael Gill added 51, a big total looked possible. Unfortunately the middle order were blown away and 120 for 2 became 137 for 8.

However a hard hitting unbroken partnership of 53 by Kyle Murphy, 22, and Don Gill, 31, took Millom II to 190 for 8 at tea. Kieron Foster took 5 for 46 for Lanercost.

The visitors made an excellent start against a weakened Millom attack and went to a good win at 193 for 4 in the 45th over. David Ferguson ending on 62 not out.

Ulverston returned to winning ways at Egremont and mainly due to Steve Olliver’s 60 and Stuart Cooper’s 34, were 196 all out at tea. Egremont’s Richard Booth, with 3 for 22 off his 15 overs, was Egremont’s best.

Egremont batted sensibly but lost wickets regularly and with Gareth Yates taking 4 for 34 in 15 overs, and Stuart Cooper 4 for 9 in 8 overs, Egremont were all out for 125. Shaun Bostock’s 27 was the highest score in Egremont’s innings.

Hawcoat Park’s opener Ryan Lucas, with a brilliant 120, supported by Pete Harrison’s 31, saw their team post 232 for 9 in their home game with Workington II, for who Dave Pearce took 4 for 28.

In reply Workington were never in a winning position and were all out for 136. Steve Hannaway 3 for 20, and Matthew Haines 3 for 36, doing most damage.

Wigton took first knock at Appleby Eden and must have been disappointed to be knocked over for 145 of which Mike Holliday made 56. Appleby pro Scott Clement taking 6 for 32.

Appleby never looked in trouble as they went to a comfortable win at 149 for 5. Scott Clement made 49 not out and Scott Thomlinson 42.

First published at 13:02, Monday, 05 July 2010
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk