Leaders sneak winning draw
Last updated 19:42, Thursday, 19 June 2008
IN A cracking contest premier leaders Workington managed 16 points from a winning draw against Penrith - by just three runs.
Workington, who are the defending North Lancashire & Cumbria champions, were confident after reaching 253-9 in their 50 overs.
Their position was made even stronger when they dismissed Penrith’s danger men Andrew Hall and Upul Fernando fairly cheaply.
But the home side’s Nick Burns produced a fine knock of 82 not out, well supported by youngsters Alex Atkinson (67) and Ben Littleton (51) so that the Penrith nearly got there.
In a tense finish they were 250-7 at the close - one boundary short of a famous victory.
Simon James had been the architect of the Workington innings with an unbeaten 96, while professional Simon Beare chipped inwith 35.
Second placed Millom slipped to a surprise home defeat, well beaten by 10 wickets as Dalton openers Wiaan Van Zyl (105no) and Steven Costa (52no) reached 169 without being parted, off only 22.3 overs.
Earlier slow left armer Brian Bell had taken 5-45 when Millom were bowled out for 163. Barney Arnold top-scored with 42.
Whitehaven were also big winners, making 209-2 at Haverigg after restricting the home side to 208-6. Haverigg professional Sridharan Sriram top-scored with an unbeaten 110.
Johnny Bruce was the hero for Whitehaven with an unbeaten 101 after fellow opener Eddie Birkett had scored 56.
Cockermouth have been among the runs recently but they were well beaten at Cleator after being bowled out for 97. David Bell (4-15) and David Rooney (3-26) were the main wicket-takers.
Earlier Cleator had made 204-6, recovering from a poor start through the efforts of Chris Quin (68no) and Paul Knott (36).
A good game at Fitz Park could have gone either way but in the end Keswick took 17 points from a draw against Furness.
Opener Richard Webster hit a fine 121 for Keswick when they made 247-9 and he had most support from Neil Swainson (30). Peter Lawson took 3-48 for Furness.
At the close Furness had reached 228-9 with former Keswick professional Majid Jahangir top-scoring on 63. New pro Dinuka Hettiarachchi took 4-43.
Carlisle also took 17 points from their drawn game with bottom side Duddon SC after reaching 215-3.
Their professional Usman Saeed was another of the day’s centurions with 114 and in reply Duddon made 161-9 to earn seven points from the draw.
There were three more centuries and a 96 in division one where most of the games were drawn.
The only positive result was at Vickerstown where Geoff Luxon scored a century but finished on the losing side. He made 122 out of a total of 234-4 but then James Thornton made 92 not out in a winning Kirkby reply of 235-8.
There were two century-makers at Lowmoor Road where Wigton drew with Lindal Moor.
Tom Fleming made 105 not out when Wigton batted first and reached 288-5. Bobby Sherlock (85) offered strong support.
But Lindal had Swapneel Hazare in their ranks and he responded with an unbeaten 112 which saw the visitors to 217-5 at the close.
The nearly man in division one was Appleby Eden’s new professional Tillakaratne Sampath who made 96 in a huge score of 318-5 at home to Keswick Seconds. Mark Ousby was 54 not out.
Bottom side Keswick earned themselves nine points from the draw as they were 202-9 at the close as the tail wagged to good effect.
Lanercost and Workington Seconds drew at the Valentine Ground after the visitors had posted 269-9.
David Ferguson (63), Keith Forster (55) and Craig Foster (44) were among the runs for Lanercost as Stephen Miller took 5-63 for Workington.
In reply the home side had got to 238-5 at the close led by David Pearce (70no) and Miller (52).
In the other game Cleator Seconds drew at Hawcoat Park after they had bowled out the home side for 228. Mike Ponticelli took 4-74 and then Tim Sharpe top-scored with 55 in the Cleator reply of 179-8.
Fixtures - Premier: Cockermouth v Dalton, Duddon v Cleator, Furness v Haverigg, Millom v Penrith, Whitehaven v Carlisle, Workington v Keswick.
Division one: Cleator Seconds v Wigton, Egremont v Workington Seconds, Keswick Seconds v Vickerstown, Lanercost v Hawcoat Park, Lindal Moor v Appleby Eden.
Sunday - Higson Cup quarter-finals: Cleator v Keswick, Whitehaven v Workington, Dalton v Millom, Carlisle v Haverigg.
