A scintillating 81 from West Indian pro Justin Greaves proved the foundation for Carlisle’s winning start at Edenside against Cleator.

The Barbadian came to the crease with the home side in some trouble after the early and consecutive losses of Jordan Whinn and skipper Marc Brown to the in-form David Blackwell.

But, together with Ben Davidson (30), Greaves began to acclimatise to untypically dry Cumbrian conditions and put together a composed and effortless innings.

His straight driving was classical in its composition with low brow and high elbow, but his counter punching on the up and brutal pulls wooed a big crowd, enjoying some warm spring sunshine.

With 17 overs remaining and the bowling at his mercy, the umpire spoiled the party by granting an LBW appeal from Cleator’s own all-rounder Darren Clark and Greaves had to go.

Later he shrugged beneath the shadow of his cap and said “it was only 81.”

But what an 81. A spectacle for the crowd and a guarantee of class for his captain.

Carlisle, at one point eyeing up 270, then had to settle for 222 all out, thanks to cameos from James Lythgoe, Paul Glascott and James Dawson.

As Cleator set about their response, Greaves glided in with silky menace at one end, but it was Phil Frazer who prised the door ajar when he had Mason caught behind by a stunning catch from Craig Manchester, tumbling quickly to his left to grab the ball an inch above the deck.

At 49-4, Carlisle scented victory, but a stubborn 38 from opener Tom Sharpe and an impressive 75 from Chris Quinn at 6 revived unlikely hopes as Cleator took their score beyond 130.

Greaves did pick up two, but it was the occasional offies of Ben Davidson that swung the game again, along with a one stump run out from Marc Brown.

The last rites on a twitching Cleator corpse were carried out as Manchester snaffled Quin off who else but Justin Greaves.

A great win for Carlisle over a competitive Cleator outfit ahead of big games against championship favourites Workington and Furness.

Workington made light work of Cockermouth in the Premier Division.

Batting first, they smashed 261 for 8 in their 50 overs. Robbie Lambert top scored with 64.

In reply, the home side fell just 54 runs as Workington took the wickets they needed in 22 overs.

Furness were comfortable winners at Wigton.

The home team batted first, but were all out for 83.

Furness needed just 21 overs to bat their way to glory.

Keswick were the division’s other winners, beating Dalton.

Winning the toss, Dalton batted first, but lost early wickets.

Only captain Dan Sharp, with 39, gave the hosts something to defend as they were all out for 143 – 17 of those runs came from Keswick’s sloppy bowling.

Keswick made a steady start and 37 not out from professional Geeth Kumara and Joppy Hodgson’s 35 saw their side to 146 for 7 in the 46th over. Dalton’s Jon Bell took 3 for 33 in 11 overs.

In Division One, put in to bat, Lindal Moor broke league records. At 57 for 2, skipper Edward Waind joined professional Kenroy Peters and took the score to 382 when Waind was out for 116 (110 balls) after a stand of 325 – a new Lindal Moor record.

Peters was eventually out for 233 (off 112 balls), a new record score in both league and cups competitions. The Moor were 426 for 6 when overs ran out, a new record total in all league and cup games, breaking Millom’s record of 414 for 7 in the 1923 Higson Cup.

Understandably, Vickerstown had a poor day with the bat to be all out for 122 in 38 overs. Craig Crawford took 6 for 41 in his 15 overs.

There were also wins for Haverigg, Whitehaven, Millom, Kirkby, Cockermouth II and Windscale.