Carlisle Cricket Club underlined their credentials with two more victories over the weekend.

They were contrasting efforts, too, as they had to battle hard to beat dangerous league rivals Cleator and had a bit more in hand against Haverigg in the County Cup.

The two-wicket victory over Cleator was vital as it kept the city side only six points behind 100 per cent leaders Furness.

Continuing the good work at Lindal Moor tomorrow will be equally important as leaders Furness host Workington, who are joint second with Carlisle.

A nerveless unbeaten 46 from young batsman Jonathan Davidson helped secure the nail-biting league win against Cleator at Edenside.

The visitors had been in trouble early on and eventually recovered to set a reasonable target after reaching 166-6.

In-form Henry Walker was the most successful Carlisle bowler, taking 3-36 from his 11 overs.

A patient 52 from Carlisle professional Michael Slack inched the home team towards their total but another in-form bowler, Cleator’s David Blackwell, tore out the heart of Carlisle’s middle-order, leaving them on 148-8.

Blackwell finished with 4-32 but young Davidson stood firm as wickets fell around him. He batted superbly and without nerves to shepherd Carlisle home as Phil Frazer kept him company at the end as the pair guided Carlisle to victory with less than two overs to spare.

That was a most valuable victory, as it could easily have slipped away from them and they will have to make changes for the trip to Lindal.

Match-winner Davidson has to miss out, revising for his first A-Level exam on Monday.

Jordan Whinn comes into replace him while Jonathan’s older brother Ben Davidson, playing county hockey last weekend, returns to the line-up in place of Paul Glascott who is unavailable.

Although Carlisle also had to make changes for the County Cup game, they were still too strong for the League One side Haverigg.

Batting first, they struggled against the seam bowling of Frazer, Slack, Walker and Fraser Conn and limped to 126-7 from their 40 overs.

It proved insufficient as another fine 50 from Slack and an unbeaten 47 from skipper Marc Brown saw Carlisle home with time to spare.

Brown said he was delighted his team had completed a tough double test.

"The Cleator game was a big one in the league for us. We know their class, but we showed that we are a dangerous and improving team," said Brown.

"Sunday was all about getting the result and I thought we were brilliant, restricting their innings and then chasing it down.

"Over the course of the weekend, Michael Slack was outstanding.

"It’s why we tried so hard to bring him back to Carlisle. In big games, he gives us big performances."

Slack’s former team, Wigton, are currently, struggling third bottom with just one win so far.

They were bowled out for 80 at Dalton last weekend when they were set to chase 162-8. Ben Purdham, Glen Liddle and Chris Hodgson each took two wickets.

Wigton struggled with the bat and, apart from skipper Nico Watt (37), no other batsman reached double figures. Home pro Lasith Waduge took 5-22.

Wigton will hope to return to winning ways tomorrow when they host Millom at Lowmoor Road.

Keswick finally got off the mark in the Cumbria Cricket League Premier Division with a comfortable home win against the bottom side Egremont.

Sri Lankan professional Geeth Kumara hit a half-century and also took five wickets with his leg-spin as Egremont were bowled out for only 66 from 28 overs in reply to Keswick’s 199/7 from 50 overs.

Kumara’s measured 53 with the bat came from 82 balls and included two fours and a six.

A greater challenge awaits tomorrow when they travel to Cleator, a team only marginally above Keswick in the Premier Division table – one place and two points better off.

Other games tomorrow are: Cockermouth v Egremont; Whitehaven v Dalton.