Carlisle Cricket Club could seal a top-four finish in the North Lancs and Cumbria Premier Division if they win at Dalton tomorrow.

Although they lost to title favourites Cockermouth on Saturday, the city side still have a six-point advantage over the 2017 champions Workington who currently lie fifth.

Workington have a home game tomorrow, but it’s a tough one as they host Cleator who simply have to win to have a chance to take the title race to next week’s final day.

Trailing Cockermouth by 16 points with two games to go, only a win for them at Workington and a defeat for the leaders at home to Wigton will ensure the championship is decided on the final Saturday of the season.

Cockermouth’s victory at Carlisle last Saturday, allied to a rain-off for Cleator at home to Dalton, pushed the Sandair side into their comfortable lead.

Cleator only had five balls before rain intervened when they were set to chase the visitors’ 231 all out.

In effect, Cockermouth need five points to clinch the title and the trophy will be there at Sandair to hand over if they beat Wigton to bag the silverware.

Scottish international Richie Berrington, who went cheaply for five at Carlisle last wicket and didn’t take a wicket in his eight overs, will be keen to show more of his undoubted talent when he fills in as Cockermouth’s sub-pro again.

His Scotland team-mate George Munsey certainly had the better of things in his role as Carlisle sub-pro, even though Cockermouth pocketed the winning points.

Munsey scored 39 in Carlisle’s 177-5 with Ben Davidson (48) and James Lythgoe (36) also making decent contributions.

When Berrington went for five, Cockermouth were 89-3 and from there Greg Platten (76 not out) and Marcus Stables (52 not out) saw them through to a seven-wicket win with three overs to spare.

Wigton are cast in the role of party poopers tomorrow when they travel to Sandair but have shown themselves to be difficult opponents this season climbing to sixth.

They will want to do better than they did last week when they slumped to a nine-wicket defeat at home to Furness.

Professional Mike Slack made 32 but then seven batsmen failed to get into double figures before a face-saving last-wicket partnership between Glen Liddle (28) and Johnny Honeyman (27 not out) got them to 119.

Although they lost Will Stanway cheaply, Furness were carried to victory on 120-1 in 24.5 overs with Scott Pearcey 73 not out and Mike Gadsden 37 not out.

Keswick were disappointing again, being well beaten at Millom after the home side had rattled-up 276-5 led by Graham Dawson (125 not out).

Keswick pro Geeth Kumara took 4-41 from his 15 overs.

Kumara (38), along with Stephen Moss (39) and skipper Dan Gaskell (34), were the mainstays as Keswick were bowled out for 158.

Tomorrow’s Premier Division games are: Cockermouth v Wigton; Dalton v Carlisle; Furness v Whitehaven; Haverigg v Millom; Keswick v Lindal Moor; Workington v Cleator.

Meanwhile, Carlisle has very successfully hosted the three-day Minor Counties Championship match between Cumberland and Lincolnshire at Edenside, which finished on Tuesday.

Victory for the visitors sealed their place in this year’s Championship Final where they will play the winners of the West division.

Carlisle secretary Mark Davidson said: “We’d just like to thank all those that have helped the club over the last week in delivering such a high quality of hospitality and welcome. Comments this week have been extremely complimentary of Carlisle CC.

“The Edenside committee wishes to pass on it’s grateful thanks to everyone who has contributed.

“Personally, I wish to highlight [chairman] Mike Rayson who’s culinary efforts in the kitchen have been simply amazing. How he has produced such high-quality meals over the three days is simply beyond me.

“Also to David Reed and co for a superb effort in getting Edenside ready for play, particularly after such wet conditions on Monday.

“It was a brilliant effort by everyone involved and it is no surprise that the County Club wish to return in 2019.”

In a rain-affected game, Lincolnshire forfeited their second innings after Cumberland had forfeited their first when they were asked to reply to the visitors’ 271-8 declared. So, in essence, it became a one innings game.

Cumberland were bowled out for 178 with Wigton’s Slack top-scoring on 40.

Carlisle debutant Ben Davidson scored 13 after taking two good catches in the Lincs innings.