Despite losing to main rivals Furness in the big game earlier in the season, Workington lead the North Lancs & Cumbria Cricket League by 14 points.

Certainly the gods seem to be smiling on the West Cumbrians, who took the title last year to crown an unbeaten treble-winning season.

Two of those trophies have already gone – the CN Cup (formerly the Higson Cup) and the County Cup, so hanging on to the league crown has become a sole objective.

Twice this season, when the weather has played havoc with the other games, Workington have completed and won.

Twice they have held their nerve to win matches they were in danger of losing, scrambling home by the narrowest of margins against Carlisle and on Saturday, at Wigton.

In an incredible game, with a nail-biting finish, Wigton came desperately close to the win.

They failed by only three runs at Lowmoor Road to grab victory in a dramatic run chase.

Without the Moffat brothers, Callum and Kristian, Workington were lighter in the batting than normal which is why Wigton invited them to bat.

The champions made a solid enough start, reaching 66 without loss at the half-way stage. Then skipper Robbie Lambert was dismissed for 21 first ball after drinks.

His opening partner Greg Platten went on to make 49th before being dismissed in the 49th over. He had been well supported by Callum Sutton (34).

Jonny Honeyman was the most successful Wigton bowler, taking 4-63 off 12 overs as Workington reached 207-7.

Nico Watt (38) and Michael Slack (50) gave Wigton a great start, ahead of the clock with 90 in 23 overs.

Workington were unable to use former Durham Academy bowler Andrew Ireland after he sustained a shoulder injury.

But they did take three quick wickets to leave Wigton 108-3 and give the champions an edge.

But then 48 from Theo Manihera and 29 from skipper Mikey Hill took them to within 16 runs of victory but both were dismissed inside five balls on 192.

With two new batsmen in they still needed 15 off the last over but a six off pro Kaushalya Gajasinghe by John Reed from the first ball gave them hope.

Eventually they needed four to tie off the last ball and six to win.

Reed came within a foot of clearing the long leg side boundary for victory but a scrambling stop by Dan Robson saved the boundary and they only got two to leave Workington victorious by just two runs.

Robson was the most successful Workington bowler with 3-72.

They came off the field to learn that arch rival Furness had been beaten by five wickets at Cockermouth and now trail the west Cumbrians by 14 points.

From their point of view Cockermouth were only concerned the win took them off the bottom, seven points ahead of Dalton who lost by 102 runs at home to Cleator.

Wigton’s defeat also meant that Carlisle leap-frogged them back into third place after their excellent home win over Keswick.

Tomorrow Carlisle travel to Cleator while Wigton will be aware when they travel south that their hosts Furness will be smarting from that defeat at Cockermouth.

After beating one title challenger on Saturday Cockermouth will be trying to do it again tomorrow when they visit Workington.

The Premier Division programme is completed by Keswick hosting Dalton.

In Division One Whitehaven beat Seascale by eight wickets and are second, six points behind Lindal Moor who won the big game against Millom by six wickets.

Tomorrow, Whitehaven travel to Ulverston who are next to bottom of the table.