Cumbria County Cricket Club's quarter-final was in doubt

The weather forecasts were dire: up to 95% risk of rain. However, as the day began, it was dry with high white clouds and occasional glimpses of the sun.

A stiff breeze swirled around the ‘Edenside Bowl’. Cumbria’s Captain, Michael Slack (Carlisle CC), returning from injury, won the toss and elected to field.

Openers Kelsall and Moulton were restricted to 4 runs from the first 5 overs, thanks to the bowling of Sam Sharp (Penrith CC) and Louis Backhouse (Kendal CC).

Cumbria missed two opportunities to break up the opening partnership: a very difficult, high, swirling catching opportunity and a missed run-out opportunity.

The openers garnered a partnership of 73 from 123 balls before Freddie Fallows (Kendal CC) bowled Kelsall with the 3rd ball of the 21st over.

This brought Kettleborough to the crease: the leading run scorer in the NCCA trophy this season at that point.

He faced four balls for 1 run before being trapped lbw by Ben Walkden (Newton-le-Willows CC).

The two other most prolific Staffordshire batsmen in the Trophy this year also fell to Walkden: Lincoln was bowled and Walker caught behind by keeper Sam Bates (Workington CC).

Bates was in catching action again seven overs later, to help Sharpy send Morris back to the hutch.

Then came three clean bowled dismissals by Backhouse: Moulton in the 40th over, Hawkins in the 42nd over, and Leese in the 44th over.

Next ball, Tom Brett was caught behind. Six balls later, Keeling-Wright was stumped off the bowling of Fallows.

Backhouse was the top wicket-taker for Cumbria (9 overs, 3 maidens, 4 for 24, economy 2.67). Freddie was the most economical bowler (9.3 overs, 2 maidens, 2 for 17, economy 1.79).

Facing a relatively modest target of 139 to win, Cumbria sent in openers Fallows and Calum Rowe (Carlisle CC).

The latter had demonstrated his stickability just the day before, for Carlisle at Edenside, creating (with Slacky) a 203-run partnership to take their team from 7/2 to 210/3.

The risk of rain meant that the DLS method (to calculate a fair target/par score for the team batting second, when a match is interrupted by weather) might come into play.

In that situation, it is vital to keep ahead of the scoring rate and minimise loss of wickets. Within 7 overs, Rowe and Tom Fraine (Clifton Alliance CC) had each edged to the keeper. Freddie had holed out to midwicket.

Cumbria was on 25/3. The DLS par score (because of the fall of wickets) was 44.

Walkden was bowled, Matthew Sempill (Cockermouth CC) caught by first slip. 32/4 off 10.1 overs. Slack and Max Winskill (Shaw CC) started carefully, and after 25 overs, the hosts were on 60/5 (DLS 85).

In the 29th over, Slacky was dropped on the square leg boundary. By the 37th century, Cumbria was ahead of DLS.

In the 42nd over, Winskill was caught at long off. The partnership was 83 off 190 balls. But at 115/6, the Sausages still needed 24 from 8.2 overs.

By the time Bates was bowled, 10 runs were needed from 5.1 overs. Slacky edged to the keeper. 7 needed with just 2 wickets in hand.

When Nico Watt (Carlisle CC) was out lbw, Cumbria were still 4 runs short: a leg bye, a 2. The tension amp ramped up to 11.

Another dot, then a straight, elevated 4 by Backhouse to secure victory. Next for Cumbria, the National Counties Dojo T20 Cup continues, with start times 11am and 2.30pm: Sunday, June 14 v Shropshire at Cockermouth CC, Sunday, June 21, v Cheshire at Nantwich CC Cumbria’s NCCA NV Play Trophy Semi-Final takes place against Cheshire CCC on Sunday, June 28, home venue tba.