Carlisle Cricket Club stay hot on the heels of leaders Furness in the race for Cumbria Cricket League’s Premier Division title.

Nothing changed at the weekend with all the games affected by rain and abandoned - some without a ball being bowled.

Two key matches were among the victims - Carlisle’s trip to Cleator and the game at Sandair between champions Cockermouth and leaders Furness.

Carlisle, without four regulars including professional Mike Slack and skipper Marc Brown, were probably the least troubled of the four teams over the abandonments.

However, they would have liked Cockermouth to play and beat Furness, but that was one of the games abandoned without a ball being bowled.

It leaves Furness still three points clear of Carlisle and 25 in front of Cockermouth who stay third.

Furness probably have the tougher game tomorrow when they visit the 2016 and 2017 champions Workington. Carlisle entertain Lindal Moor, while Cockermouth visit the bottom side Egremont.

All four players who would have missed the Cleator game - Brown, Slack, Jonathan Davidson and Henry Walker, are back in to face Lindal.

Brown said: "We won by seven wickets down at Lindal but they have some good individual players and could be tricky opponents, even though they are only mid-table.

"We have a number of players in form and just have to believe in ourselves and stay focused.

"There’s a lot of cricket to look forward to - seven games in the league and a County Cup semi-final, which will, hopefully, lead to a final."

There’s going to be a big weekend at the end of August when Carlisle visit Furness on August 25 and, the following day, they travel to Cleator in the delayed County Cup semi-final.

Cockermouth may be losing their grip on the Cumbria League’s Premier Division crown, but they have their eyes on other silverware.

The Sandair side reached the County Cup final with a dramatic win over Dalton, which was in doubt until the very last ball.

Cockermouth had won the toss and chose to field but Dalton scored freely to reach 170-9 with half-centuries from their professional Lasith Lakshan (59) and wicket-keeper Liam Curwen (67).

The home side started poorly, losing two wickets in the first two overs but skipper Alex Grainger held the innings together while wickets continued to fall round him.

When he was out for a well-crafted 52, Cockermouth were well behind the asking rate but their victory rested on a vital eighth-wicket partnership.

Two mighty sixes from Mark Middleton (28 not out) and some quick running from wicket-keeper Sam Scully (27) took them close.

However, it all hinged on the final ball, with the last pair at the wicket, and a single from Matthew Hodgson gave Cockermouth their last-gasp win.

It should be an interesting clash at Fitz Park where Keswick entertain Cleator but the hosts will be excused if they have one eye on Sunday’s Higson Cup final against Furness, at Haverigg.

The Keswick club is involved in arguably one of the most important weekends of their season, including that cup final for the first-team, and also, at the same time, a visit from a 53-strong touring party of Australians.

The touring Aussies are from the Yarra Valley, a wine-growing region in Victoria, and will be taking part in a T20 tournament that was organised back in January when news of the intended visit from Down Under first broke.

The T20 matches, two semi-finals and a final, will start at 11am on the Sunday, with Yarra Valley A v Cumberland Over-50s. At about 2pm, Yarra Valley B will play a side representing the Eden Valley Cricket League.

The respective winners of the two matches will meet in a final which is expected to start at about 6pm, and club officials are hoping that, before the evening is over, the Higson Cup will be on display in the pavilion.

Dalton v Whitehaven and Millom v Wigton complete the Premier Division fixtures tomorrow.