Carlisle Cricket Club should have been plotting back-to-back trips to Cleator this weekend.

But only tomorrow’s Cumbria Cricket League Premier Division clash will go ahead as Sunday’s scheduled County Cup semi-final between the two sides, also at Cleator, will be played at a later date.

As it happens, Carlisle will be without four regulars for the league clash - skipper Marc Brown is at a wedding while Henry Walker and Jonathan Davidson are also unavailable.

The biggest miss, however, will be professional Mike Slack who has proved to be a superb signing for the club.

“It’s unfortunate because it’s a vital game, but we are still confident in the team that we will be putting out,” said captain Marc Brown.

“Luke Westmorland has been getting wickets with the second-team in the Eden Valley League and will come in for his debut.

"James Bell and Jordan Whinn are also included and we have every confidence in them.”

Carlisle have engaged a sub-pro in 35-year-old Hasnain Abbas, a Pakistani batsman and spin bowler who has been playing in the Lancashire League for a number of years.

“It will be tough because Cleator are a competitive side who recently beat Furness so are in decent form," said Brown.

“And they won well at Millom last week, as well."

Carlisle were comfortable nine-wicket winners over the bottom side Egremont after they were bowled out for 86. Fraser Conn took 3-10.

Ben Davidson, who will captain the side at Cleator, guided Carlisle to victory with 34 not out.

Carlisle will have one eye on what’s happening at Sandair where champions Cockermouth are taking on leaders Furness in the match of the day.

England’s World Cup hero Ben Stokes will be back at the club to watch the game - and, presumably, put a lot more on the number of spectators taking in the contest.

It’s a massive two days for the Cockermouth club as they host Dalton on Sunday in the semi-final of the County Cup.

Club secretary Geoff Minshaw said: “It’s great that Ben is coming back to see us where it all started for him.

"I’m hoping that some of Ben’s stardust falls on the team for this one.

“We rather lost the ground last week that we had gained earlier from the win at Carlisle. It means we have to beat Furness to get back into contention for the title.

“I’m afraid we were very poor last week and everyone seemed to have an off day. Mind you, full marks to Keswick who played really well.

“Obviously, they are two big home games this weekend as a County Cup semi-final is always going to be one you are keen to win.”

Cockermouth will be strengthened for both games by the return of batsman Marcus Stables who is home for the weekend from university.

Cockermouth suffered a rare defeat the hands of Keswick, who were delighted to have won so impressively.

They revealed later that the wicket used for the game was a well-worn strip that had been used several times previously. It was specially prepared, shorn of grass, to play to Keswick’s strength in the spin department.

So it proved as Keswick duly batted, knowing the wicket would show signs of wear and tear over the second-half of the game.

Their total of 190 was always going to test the Cockermouth batting with Geeth Kumara taking 6-17 from 10.4 overs.

They were dismissed for 86 and one Keswick veteran cannot recall Cockermouth ever being dismissed at Fitz Park for less than 100. Glen Weightman (43 not out), William Atkinson (39) and Kumara (38) were the main scorers for Keswick.

Tomorrow, Keswick travel to Gillfoot to take on Egremont who still have to win in the competition.

Wigton slipped to another defeat at Workington after appearing to be in a good position.

The Workington tailed wagged enthusiastically and the home side reached 150 all out. Professional Chris Hodgson took 4-23 for Wigton with the other wickets shared between Nico Watt (3-27) and John Reed (3-33).

Andy Oliver (26) and Hodgson (16 not out) were the only Wigton batsmen to reach double figures as they were bowled out for 85. Adam Chambers took 5-21.

Wigton host Dalton tomorrow and the other games are: Lindal Moor v Millom and Whitehaven v Workington.