Opener Tom Benn has been named North Lancs and Cumbria Premier Division Player of the Year after a superb first season back at Carlisle Cricket Club.

Benn, a former Carlisle captain, returned to Edenside for the 2018 season and formed an excellent opening partnership with Ben Davidson while also keeping wicket.

One of the highlights of Carlisle's campaign, which saw them finish fourth in the Premier Division and also reach the CN Higson Cup final where they were beaten by Furness, was the performances of Benn and Davidson as Carlisle achieved two 10-wicket wins over Whitehaven and Cleator in one weekend in July.

And Benn's fine form has been rewarded ahead of the league dinner in Barrow on October 27.

Secretary Mark Davidson said: "It is superb news.

"As a club, we are absolutely over the moon. It is fantastic for him but he does deserve it for what he has done this year.

"I think it was close but he has beaten some good cricketers to win the award, the likes of Darren Clark [of Cleator] and co. He has done really, really well.

"We have the dinner on October 27 down in Barrow, so I'm hoping he will make that. It is fantastic for the club and fantastic for Tom."

Benn also had coaching lessons with Keswick professional Geeth Kumara during the season, which clearly paid dividends, as he scored 954 runs in the season.

Davidson added: "He also put a lot of work in with Geeth, so that has paid off for him.

"He has been helping with coaching at the club, as well. He has put the hard miles in, which is great because not everyone does that and shows that he is a real clubman.

"Tom could probably get into our team as a keeper or a batsman, so the fact he does both is a massive bonus for us."

First Division Player of the Year went to Cockermouth's Andrew Dodds, the Second Division gong went to Chris Moore, of Lindal Moor, while Under-21 Player of the Year went to Moore's team-mate Alasdair Grunshaw.