Carlisle Cricket Club's unbeaten record went on Monday in their Higson Cup quarter-final tie at Keswick.

They were beaten by six wickets, the first time they had tasted defeat in league and cup this season.

But skipper Marc Brown insists it might not be a bad thing to be taken down a peg or two.

"We have had a pretty good season so far, unbeaten in the league and lying second. Most of our players have put in decent performances so everyone has shown form," said Brown.

"But I suppose the top and bottom of it on Monday was that we didn’t bat very well against Keswick and didn’t get enough runs for them to chase.

"I don’t see it as a bad thing and, hopefully, it will focus our minds. There are no easy games in the Cumbria Cricket League because there are some good players.

"I will be reminding the lads of this ahead of Saturday when we go to Whitehaven."

Carlisle will have to make several changes as both Jonathan Davidson and Alex Raybould are away, so Lewis Plackett comes back in, having recovered from injury.

There’s also a league debut for 15-year-old Stanley Mcalindon, who plays with the Durham Academy and this week has been training with the first team.

"He’s very well thought of at Durham and we are looking forward to seeing him in action for us. He will probably bat at six and come on to bowl, first or second change," said Brown.

Two young players provided the foundations for that Keswick win with opening bowler James McGown taking 5-29 from 8.1 overs and opener Will Atkinson hit a highly composed match-winning 79 not out. McGown’s haul included the scalp of Carlisle professional Mike Slack who made 84 out of a Carlisle total of 165 from 40.1 (of the 45 overs).

Professional Geeth Kumara backed up young McGown by taking 4-25 from his nine overs. Keswick’s reply of 167-4 came from 43.5 overs with Kumara (20) and young Scott McGown (18) also contributing to the total.

Carlisle fought right to the end, bowling tightly and fielding with speed and energy. Keswick will now meet Egremont, who defeated Whitehaven in a very low-scoring game, in the semi-final at Fitz Park on Sunday, July 14.

They last won the Higson Cup, the Cumbria Cricket League’s premier cup competition, in 2006 and 2012. But a new crop of young players - including Atkinson, who hit 143 unbeaten runs in league and cup over the weekend, is now beginning to emerge.

Cleator beat Workington in their quarter-final but the fourth tie between Millom and Furness was abandoned with no result.

In the Premier Division, Carlisle and Keswick both had their games abandoned on a wet Saturday when Workington were the only winners, defying the showers to beat Cockermouth by Duckworth-Lewis.

Wigton had started very promisingly against Carlisle and had made 90-1 off 20 overs with Kieran Little (39no) and Nico Watt (28no) both going well.

Keswick managed 30 overs against Lindal Moor before they had to finish for the day on 139-4, with opener Will Atkinson 64 not out.

The two teams meet tomorrow at Wigton’s Lowmoor Road, a ground where Keswick traditionally don’t do very well.

The other games tomorrow are: Cockermouth v Cleator; Furness v Millom; Lindal Moor v Egremont; Workington v Dalton.