Double win puts Workington top
Last updated 19:43, Thursday, 29 May 2008
DEFENDING champions Workington are back on top of the North Lancashire & Cumbria after a superb Bank Holiday weekend.
On Saturday they beat Cleator by two wickets and then on Monday had a 50-run win over Whitehaven.
Workington head the table on 102 points with Furness and Millom next, both with 99.
Against Cleator the champions got off to a great start taking three wickets for just 10 runs. But the home team was rescued by Robert Mason (55) and Ian Clark (13) in the middle order and from 35-5 they more than doubled the score.
Then there were late, important runs from Simon Wilson (21) and David Bell (17) which allowed Cleator to get to 127 in 37 overs.
Matthew Gorley took 4-34 for Workington who found runs equally hard to come by on a pitch which gave help to the bowlers.
They lost two wickets without scoring and were 28-4 before Callum Moffat settled them down with 51.
Moffat and Simon James (8) together doubled Workington’s score and then late runs were added by captain Steve Benson (18) and a former skipper Martyn Turner (16no).
The overs were never a question, it was whether Cleator could take the wickets but Workington eventually made it on 128-8.
On Monday at home to Whitehaven, Workington batted first and again it was Moffat who made the biggest contribution, 74 in his side’s all out total of 239.
In reply Steve Holliday (57) kept Whitehaven in with a shout but the last pair had one over to survive which they couldn’t do and were all out for 189. Workington’s professional Simon Beare did best with the ball taking 4-20.
Back to Saturday’s games, Penrith’s reign at the top ended when they could only manage a six-point draw at Haverigg. The home side raced to 265-1 and at the close survival was Penrith were 172-9.
There was a great game at Keswick where the home side, who have been struggling at the wrong end of the table, tied with title-hopefuls Millom.
The last Millom wicket went down with the scores tied so both teams had to be content with 15 points apiece.
Any result was possible in a thrilling climax but Millom were bowled out for 133, responding to Keswick’s 133-9.
Keswick’s total was built on a fifth-wicket stand between Steven Hindmarch (37) and Andrew Rigg (27) with Simon Bickerstaffe (4-35) the most successful Millom bowler.
Stuart Swallow (31) and Robert Brown (21) gave Millom a solid enough start but then the wickets started to fall and a good spell from Imran Khan (5-19) helped induce the collapse which ended in the game being tied.
Highest scorers of the day were Furness who rattled-up 277-2 at home to Cockermouth.
Former Keswick professional Majid Jahangir enjoyed his afternoon, top-scoring with an unbeaten 144 which included nine fours and two sixes.
Teenager Mark Daly gave good support with 60 as Cockermouth were given a chasing in the field.
Professional Chamila Gamage (60) and Gareth White (48) were the key batsmen in Cockermouth’s reply of 195-9 which earned them seven points for the draw. Peter Lawson took 5-69 for the home side.
Whitehaven had an important win over struggling Duddon sailing home in the end by nine wickets.
David Crowe (4-40) helped dismiss Duddon for 127 with professional Saliva Saman and Habib Baloch each taking two wickets.
Whitehaven lost Eddie Birkett (30) but Johnny Bruce (63no) and Andrew Kelly (26no) saw Whitehaven through to a comfortable victory.
In the other premier division game Carlisle had a seven-wicket win at Dalton after bowling-out the home side for 84, Lee Readitt (5-20) and professional Usman Saeed (3-17) being the main destroyers. Usman then scored 50 as Carlisle replied with 85-3.
Division one leaders Wigton were beaten at home by Kirkby after the visitors had posted an impressive 240-6. Wigton were dismissed for 185.
Keswick Seconds won at Ulverston after veteran Keith Richardson (5-43) and Andrew Appleby (4-26) combined to dismiss the home side for 118.
Graeme Stephenson was unbeaten on 55 in Keswick’s winning reply of 122-5.
Egremont lost at home to Lindal Moor, Lanercost drew with Cleator Seconds and Hawcoat Park beat Appleby Eden.
Monday’s games in premier division produced another tie, this time between Penrith and Carlisle.
Penrith reached 207-7 with the best contributions from Alex Atkinson (64) and professional Upul Fernando (54).
Carlisle’s professional Usman took 4-55 and then shone with the bat as he reached 105.
But with the scores level, and any result possible, Penrith grabbed the last wicket and the match was tied.
In a high scoring game at Cockermouth, the excellent Sandair pitch made it a hard day for the bowlers.
The home side scored 199-9 with Hugh Gimber top-scoring on 62.
Keswick made a bold bid to go for the runs but eventually fell just short as the game finished in a draw with the visitors on193 for 7. Skipper Imran Khan (68) and Stephen Hindmarch (56) made the best contributions for Keswick.
Cleator were able to bounce back from their disappointing home defeat by Workington when they scored a five-wicket win at Dalton.
Dave Bell had 4-51 and Jordan Clark took 3-26 when Dalton were bowled-out for 114 with Sam Costa top-scoring for the home side on 27.
The top of the Cleator batting order struggled and it took a watchful stand by teenager Steve Carson (27no) and veteran Ian Clark (24no) to see them home.
Furness had a comfortable eight-wicket win over struggling Duddon. Former Keswick professional Jahangir made 85no in a winning response of 126-2.
Earlier Duddon had struggled to 123-9. The Gribbin brothers, Matthew with 29 and Lewis with 24, were Duddon’s best, while Stuart Horne (4-23) and Glenn Capstick (3-28) shared the bowling honours for Furness.
Haverigg batted first in the local derby at Millom but lost Saturday centurion Steve Chapman early on. Robert Bell (26) and pro Sridharan Srinam (43) made a good recovery, before Keith Paterson continued his good form with an excellent 60.
With some solid support from the middle order Haverigg were eventually all out for 185.
Dominic Connor (4-41) and Simon Bickerstaffe (3-51) were the pick of the Millom bowlers.
In reply, Stuart Swallow was soon out but Ryan Brown (65) and Connor (43) brought Millom strongly into contention and a late flourish by Ian Swarbrick (25no) saw Millom win.
After Saturday’s excellent win at Wigton, Kirkby had Lanercost as visitors in division one but this time had to be content with a draw.
Keswick Seconds were well beaten at home by Workington Seconds counterparts as they slumped to a nine-wicket defeat. They were bowled out for 84 with Workington’s Dan McDermott taking 5-17 and Dave Pearce (4-28) before the visitors cruised to 86-1.
Wigton lost at Appleby, Cleator Seconds beat Egremont, Hawcoat Park lost at home to Vickerstown and Ulverston lost to Lindal Moor.
Fixtures - Premier: Carlisle v Millom, Cleator v Penrith, Dalton v Workington, Furness v Whitehaven, Haverigg v Cockermouth, Keswick v Duddon.
Division one: Appleby Eden v Kirkby, Egremont v Lanercost, Hawcoat Park v Keswick Seconds, Ulverston v Cleator Seconds, Wigton v Vickerstown, Workington Seconds v Lindal Moor.
