Cricket By John Walsh

Last updated 13:16, Wednesday, 07 May 2008

Cleator are setting a hot pace at the top of the Marston’s North Lancashire and Cumbria Premier Division after three games.

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Well done: Carlisle bowler Alex Raybould in action against Haverigg. He has been selected for North of England trials

They scored their second win on Saturday when they demolished Keswick for just 96 runs at the J D Campbell Memorial Ground.

Dave Rooney, Cleator’s Cumberland player, took 3-17 and Stephen Wilson backed up well with 3-20 as Neil Swainson (30no) was the only Keswick player to offer any serious resistance.

Professional Paul Duffett was unbeaten with 44 in Cleator’s winning reply of 97-2.

Keswick’s former professional Majid Jahangir was the bowling star for Furness as he took 6-16 to reduce Dalton to 51 all out.

Furness didn’t have things all their own way but eventually got through to victory on 55-6.

Reigning champions Workington were collecting their first win of the season when they beat Cockermouth by 34 runs at the Alfred Valentine Ground.

Another Cumberland player, all-rounder Matthew Gorley made 38 as Workington had to battle to reach 143-8 off their allotted 50 overs.

Greg Platten made 39 but he was virtually on his own as Cockermouth were bowled out for only 109. Simon James troubled all the batsmen and finished with 5-25 while Adam Walker finished with 4-15.

Millom had beaten Workington on the opening day and like Cleator they collected their second victory of the season when they hammered neighbours Duddon Sports Club by 99 runs.

Richard Arnold top-scored with 66 in a Millom total of 153 as a good spell of bowling from Gary Stevenson (5-16) kept them within sight. Joe Alexander took 3-50.

Duddon were never in the hunt, however, and were bowled out for a paltry 54 with Simon Bickerstaffe taking 4-14 for the home side.

Carlisle had to settle for seven points in a drawn game at home to Haverigg as the visitors rattled up 191-3 in their 50 overs. Indian professional Sridharan Sriram was unbeaten on 81 while last season’s top amateur in the League, Steve Chapman made 56.

Carlisle made a good fist of it and had reached 164-7 at the close led by professional Usman Saeed on 68. Adam Redhead took 3-26 for Haverigg.

Penrith beat Whitehaven by seven wickets after bowling out their west Cumbrian visitors for 148.

Professional Saliva Saman hit 58 and Johnny Bruce made 41 with Mike Todd (4-43) and Nick Tuer (3-28) doing best with the ball for Penrith.

Professional Upul Fernando guided Penrith to victory on 150-3 with an unbeaten 77 while Alex Atkinson chipped in with 43.

Phil Brabbins is always good for a few runs and he made 84 for Appleby Eden at home to Egremont. But it wasn’t enough to stave off the chasing west Cumbrians.

Steve Hodgson, another consistent performer at this level, was unbeaten on 70 for Egremont as they reached 199-4 to collect the win.

John Bostock had claimed 5-49 when Appleby were bowled out for 198 on what proved to be a plum batting wicket.

There was a tight game at Harcoat Park where the home side were tantalisingly close to both victory and defeat against Workington seconds.

The west Cumbrians posted 175-8 led by Jordan Whinn (67no) and then his father Andrew took 4-19 as the home side reached 168-9 to set up a tense finish.

In the end Workington came home with 17 points and their hosts took nine.

Cleator seconds took 15 points from their draw at Keswick seconds after Stephen Wishart had hit 67 in a total of 187-6.

Keswick never seriously threatened the target and finished on 117-5 with Dave Gaskell top-scoring on 41.

Lanercost went down by five wickets on their long trip south to play Vickerstown. Scott Simpson made 39 in their total of 149 and that was within Vickerstown’s compass as they raced to 152-5 led by former Barrow rugby league player Geoff Luxon who was unbeaten on 82.

Wigton beat Ulverston by 14 runs in a tight contest at Lowmoor Road. The home side’s 100 total was good enough as Ulverston could manage only 86.

Ulverston’s Phil Atkinson (30) was the top batsman on the day while Glenn Liddle took 3-25.

In the other game Lindal Moor (81) beat Kirkby (57) when the bowling of the visitors’ Swapneel Hazare (6-15) was the deciding factor.