Premier Division Carlisle Cricket Club were indebted to a 130-run fourth-wicket partnership between captain Marc Brown and Paul Glascott as the home side piled up the runs against Wigton at Edenside.

Brown’s belligerent and unbeaten 82 was in contrast to some indifferent form by his high standards this season as Wigton’s bowlers toiled on a flat deck beneath some late summer sunshine.

Together with Glascott’s undefeated 66, the pair plundered runs on the wide open spaces of Edenside and enjoyed a hearty round of applause from their team-mates on the balcony.

Earlier, Scottish sub-professional, George Munsey, a powerful left-hander, had compiled a high-tempo 53, batting at first drop, as Carlisle finished on 276-3.

If the challenge looked daunting to Wigton, opener Mike Slack oozed class and composure as he steadied ship then charted course for a late assault. His 85 was beginning to look ominous until he guided a catch to Ben Davidson in the deep off the bowling of Alex Raybould.

Slack then watched as Wigton combined quick runs with a shower of late wickets as Munsey completed a fine all-round performance with 5-52 and left-armer Chris Blythe grabbed the last wicket in the final over of the day as Wigton finished on 224.

Carlisle can now secure third place in their first season back in the North Lancs and Cumbria Premier Division with a better result than Cockermouth next week when they travel to bottom club Dalton.

Workington also had reason to celebrate as they retained the Premier Division title when they beat Keswick.

Batting first, Workington opener Kristian Moffat carried his bat, making an unbeaten 142 and helping his side to 280 for 6 at tea.

Keswick’s batting, not helped with so many 2nd XI players playing, was again very ordinary, only skipper Arran Davies going past 20, and they were all out for 61 in the 28th over. Workington pro Kaushala Gajasinghe took 5 for 16 in six overs.

Put into bat at Cleator, Cockermouth put on 84 for the first wicket, and benefited from this good start to have 225 for 4 on the board when the overs ran out.

Opener Alex Grainger and deputy pro MA Gouldstone both made 52, and skipper Gareth White 44.

In reply, the Cleator innings was dominated by Darren Clark who made an unbeaten 92, in his side’s 184 for 7, Cockermouth winning by 41 runs.

This latest innings took Darren to 1,000 runs in all Cleator’s league and cups games this season.

In Division One, Seascale had first knock at Rainey Park but were always struggling, and were all out in the 38th over for 87. No.11 Paul Knott top-scored with 23 not out. Vickerstown skipper Gareth Benson took 4 for 22 and Ben Spencer 3 for 6.

Vickerstown made a horrendous start, with the top four in the order making three runs between them.

But 38 from Dean Litherland and 21 from John Burns steadied the ship, and the Walney side won in the 25th over, making 91 for 6. Seascale’s Reece Robinson took 3 for 15.

Workington II were in first and, with No.8 Paul Mckeown top-scoring with 30 and nobody else getting to 20, were all out for 82 in the 35th over.

Whitehaven’s Habib Baloch returned 4 for 38 in his 15 overs.

Whitehaven lost two wickets, winning in the 20th over with 83. Stephen Holliday made 39 and professional Mohammad Yasin 31 not out.

In Division Two, an under-strength Cleator side were in first at Cockermouth and were all out in 29 overs for 59. Cockermouth’s Andrew Dodds took 7 for 27 in his 15 overs.

Cockermouth won by 10 wickets in the 13th over.

In Division Three, in first, Egremont were all out in the 34th over for 48. Stuart Whitelock took 3 for 4 and Luke Blaney 3 for 15.

Whitehaven won by 9 wickets in the 14th over.