Grant Reid was the toast of Workington Cricket Club – on his 21st birthday.

Reid scored his maiden century to help the 2017 champions to an opening-day win in the new-style Cumbria Cricket League’s Premier Division. They beat last season’s runners-up Cleator by 59 runs.

His ton came off 135 balls and the opener was out in the final over for an excellent 106.

Reid had lost his opening partner Kristian Moffat at 17 but brother Callum Moffat joined him and together they put on 114 for the second wicket.

Moffat (56), Adam Chambers (24) and Simon Beare (23) all gave Reid solid support as eventually the innings closed on 243-7.

Remarkably, both David Blackwell and Darren Clark returned identical bowling figures of 15-2-63-3.

Cleator lost three early wickets for 44, all to Chambers, including the dangerous Clark for 18.

Then James Rogers came in to join Dave Watson and they added 72 before Kristian Moffat took two quick wickets, including Rogers for 28, and the home side looked in trouble at 116-5.

Watson, though, continued to resist and was eventually seventh out at 165 for a belligerent 93 off 110 balls which included 12 fours.

Dan McDermott then mopped up the Cleator tail, finishing with 4-20 as they were dismissed for 184.

Last season, as defending champions, Workington were beaten at home by Carlisle.

The city side repeated the feat again by winning at the home of the 2018 champions Cockermouth, easing to victory by five wickets with nearly 3.2 overs to spare.

Carlisle showed their strength-in-depth to start the season with an impressive, five-wicket win at reigning champions Cockermouth.

Batting first, the home side looked set for an imposing target as Matthew Sempill punished some wayward early bowling.

But once Fraser Conn had the left-hander caught behind, the Sandair side’s innings fell away to finish on a disappointing 181-8.

Carlisle professional Michael Slack finished with 3-49, while off-spinner Jonathan Davidson retuned 2-35.

In response, Sri Lankan professional, Kavishka Anjula bowled with pace and aggression, but it was young Sam Thompson who dislodged Carlisle’s Slack with one that nipped away and found the outside edge.

Lewis Plackett withstood some testing short stuff before he was run out for 23, backing up as the ball deflected on to the stumps via Johnny Norman’s fingertips.

That gave Cockermouth hope, but skipper, Marc Brown and Ben Davidson then put Carlisle within striking distance of the total with a partnership of 67, before some lusty blows from James Lythgoe made the result almost inevitable.

Fittingly, though, it was Ben Davidson who saw his side home, ending unbeaten on 55.

Chris Hodgson left Cockermouth to rejoin Wigton as pro, replacing Carlisle-bound Slack.

Hodgson and fellow new arrival Martyn Turner played prominent roles in Wigton’s opening win by seven wickets against Whitehaven at Lowmoor Road.

Turner, the former Baggrow and Workington all-rounder, opened the bowling and took 3-24 from just seven overs.

Hodgson weighed in with 2-19 and Glen Liddle took 3-25 as Whitehaven were bundled out for 98 in 34.3 over.

Nathan Carmichael, batting at seven, top-scored for Whitehaven with 31.

Skipper Nico Watt (34) and opening partner Matthew Reid (32) put Wigton well on their way to a comfortable win in 34.4 overs.

Keswick were well beaten by Millom in their opening game, as the visitors’ professional enjoyed himself with bat and ball.

Sameer Sadamai made 126 off 134 balls, striking 15 fours and a six as Millom raced to 242-6 in their 50 overs.

Graham Dawson (41) and Mike Wilson (40) chipped-in well as the Keswick attack laboured in the heat. Ben Cotton did best with the ball, taking 3-60.

When Keswick replied, it was Sadamai who did most of the damage, taking 5-44 and was well backed-up by Braith Connor (4-25).

Keswick were eventually all out for 131 in 40.4 overs with opener William Atkinson (26) top-scoring.

Newly-promoted Egremont looked in trouble at 27-4 at home to Dalton but a fine knock of 70 by Mark Ponticelli, aided by 30 from Jon-Paul Dixon, got them to a respectable 165 in just over 41 overs.

The Dalton pro Lasith Warnakawaththa Waduge took 4-26 including both of Egremont’s main scorers.

Dalton needed only 32.1overs to reach their target with six wickets to spare as professional Waduge hit 66 and opener Robert Jones (53) did the bulk of the scoring.

Scott Coady took three of the four wickets to fall for 60.

Furness will lead the challenge from south Cumbria and they won their opening game at Lindal Moor by five wickets.

Electing to bat, Lindal found it hard going against Mark Daly (4-26) and Sachith Patharana (3-28) and were bowled-out for 136 in 33.5 overs.

Professional Janith De Silva top-scored with 34 and then took 3-26 as Furness reached 137-5 and victory. Opener Ryan Griffiths top-scored with 35.