ANOTHER strong performance by Michael Slack helped Cumbria County Cricket Club take a win over Staffordshire.

After being adjudged ‘Player of the Round’ for taking 7-22 against Cheshire a fortnight earlier Michael Slack proved that performance wasn’t a fluke with an all-rounder’s contribution to Cumbria CCC’s win against Staffordshire.

The Cockermouth Cricket Club ground set the stage for Cumbria v Staffordshire on Sunday June 13.

Staffs won the toss and elected to bat. They got off to a decent start scoring 30 for no loss off the first 4 overs and 5 balls. Then Slack, Carlisle CC, clean bowled opener Alex Miller.

Slack and James McGown, Keswick, delivered 10 dot balls before Slacky struck again when Matthew Morris fell to a catch by captain Gary Pratt of Richmondshire CC.

By the time the first change bowlers came on Staffs were on a respectable 48 runs off 12 overs.

But with just his fourth ball, spinner Matthew Siddall, Blackpool, tempted Zen Malik into advancing down the wicket only to be stumped by Thomas Benn, Carlisle CC, for 35.

Siddall struck again six overs later bowling Peter Wilshaw.

Paul Hindmarch was resolute, conceding a mere 10 runs off 5.1 overs before a hamstring problem forced him to hand over to spinner Nico Watt of Wigton CC.

Watt and Sam Sharp continued the pattern of limiting Staffs scoring whilst taking wickets. Watt created a caught behind and two catches for McGown bringing Staffs to 125/7 off 36 overs.

Benjamin Cotton and Tim Maxfield then batted aggressively before Slack caught and bowled Maxfield to take Staffordshire to 165/8 off 42 overs.

Nathan Waterston caught Alex Coates off the bowling of Sharp and finally Slack caught Cotton to give Siddall his 3-fer and conclude Staffordshire’s innings of 193 all out off 47.3 overs. The first ball of Cumbria’s innings viscously popped up and caught the edge of the bat of Sam Dutton but it was fumbled by second slip.

Taking full advantage of the good fortune Dutton and Slack scored at a run a ball for the first 10 overs until Dutton was bowled with his team on a healthy 61 for 1.

Waterston was bowled before he could get in, and Slack’s bat had to ‘retire hurt’ in the 22nd over. But Pratt and Slack took Cumbria to 111-3 at the half-way point of the innings.

Before he was caught on nine, Matthew Sempill received robust encouragement from club mates who were in buoyant mood having emerged from the Clubhouse after watching England’s win over Croatia.

Hindmarch came to the crease with Waterstone as his runner but the complicated ‘choreography’ was managed effortlessly and Hindy and Slacky put on 35 before Slack was caught on 57. By the time he was out Cumbria were on 172 for 6, with Hindmarch contributing 41 runs off 45 balls including 6 fours and 1 six.

Benn and Watt were dismissed in the next 2 overs with the score having advanced only 5 more runs. It seemed possible that Cumbria could fall painfully short when McGown joined his former Keswick teammate Sharp with 17 runs needed.

Pressure was intense for both teams and Staffordshire suffered 4 leg byes and a leg side wide 5 to contribute to the 14 runs accumulated in the 43rd over.

The second ball of the 44th over was steered by Sharp towards deep fine leg allowing him and McGown to run the last 3 runs required.

Cumbria has the following fixtures coming up in this Unicorns Trophy 50-overs knockout competition: Sunday 27th June vs Northumberland at Alnmouth & Lesbury CC

Sunday 4th July vs Shropshire at Netherfield CC

A spokesperson for the club said: “Please come along and support the lads – this season’s NCCA rules mean that you are guaranteed to see at least 8 Cumbrians in action.”