Carlisle Cricket Club have an immediate chance to get one over on Saturday’s conquerors Cleator when they resume acquaintances at Edenside on Sunday.

This time it’s the semi-final of the CN Higson Cup after Cleator had gone away with the 10 league points from last week’s confrontation, also at Edenside.

The North Lancs and Cumbria Premier Division clash was described as “a superb game of cricket”, in which, the league leaders triumphed by 17 runs.

In total, 469 runs were scored and 19 wickets went down in an absorbing clash between top and third.

Cleator, with 10 wins out of 11 games in the league, had two half-century makers in the powerful Dave Watson (78) and professional Tharaka Waduge (50) as they made 243 all out in exactly 50 overs.

Henry Walker (4-51) and Fraser Conn (4-58) were the most successful Carlisle bowlers.

The top four gave Carlisle hope as Tom Benn (41), Ben Davidson (26), Marc Brown (45) and Jonathan Davidson (58) certainly provided a solid foundation but they were unable to build successfully on it and were eventually short at 226-9.

Opening bowler David Blackwell took 6-44 from his 15 overs as Cleator stayed 13 points clear at the top but now 28 points clear of Carlisle who have slipped to fourth.

To complete a disappointing weekend for Carlisle, they crashed out of the County Cup on Sunday, without making the same fight of it as they had done against the league leaders.

Workington may have relinquished their North Lancs and Cumbria Premier Division crown but they are still chasing silverware.

One of their best performances of the season on Sunday saw off Carlisle in the quarter-final of the County Cup.

It means they will have a home semi-final against Wigton later in the month and a growing belief that they can still salvage something from the season.

After winning the toss and batting against Carlisle, they got off to a brisk start, mainly due to Kristian Moffat who scored 45 before being stumped off substitute pro Ernie Kemm.

Callum Moffat also weighed in with 30 and professional Kaushalya Gajasinghe continued his good run of form with 66 off 55 balls before being dismissed in the 31st over. After 40 overs, Workington closed on 214-9.

Young Walker was Carlisle’s most successful bowler with 3-44.

Carlisle started badly and were 11-2 after two overs. Kemm hung around for 39 off 79 deliveries, batting for an hour and 40 minutes and was eventually ninth out at 109 in the 31st over.

Walker was the only one who remotely offered any resistance, hitting 26 in a partnership of 37 for the eighth wicket. Kristian Moffat was the most successful Workington bowler with 3-41.

Wigton won’t be coming to the Valentine Ground just for the tea and the craic as, in the last round, they produced a terrific performance to beat league leaders Cleator.

No doubt, the merits of Cleator could be on the agenda at Wigton tomorrow when Carlisle visit in the league. The match will start at 10am due to the World Cup quarter-final.

That County Cup loss to Wigton is still Cleator’s only defeat to a Cumbrian side this season and they are still alive in the CN Higson Cup, as well as being 13 points clear of Cockermouth in the league.

Wigton are unlikely to be dragged into any relegation battle, currently being contested by three south Cumbrian sides Haverigg, Lindal and Dalton – who are separated by two points.

In fact, they were comfortable winners at Dalton on Saturday after another fine knock by professional Mike Slack.

He shared an opening stand of 134 with his skipper Nico Watt (55) and went on to make 92 with eventually Wigton closing on an impressive 288-7.

Dalton were bowled out for 167 in 32.3 overs with Ben Purdham the most successful Wigton bowler, taking 5-49.

The challenge to Cleator, who make the short trip to Whitehaven tomorrow, would seem to rest with Cockermouth who are 11 points clear of Furness who have moved ahead of Carlisle into third place.

Tomorrow, Cockermouth travel to Lindal Moor, one of the three south Cumbrian sides currently locked in a battle to avoid the drop.

Keswick are just struggling for consistency at the minute, a trait which isn’t affecting their excellent professional Geeth Kumara who continues in outstanding form, despite the defeat at Workington.

It looked as though Kumara had turned the game in Keswick’s favour after they had slumped to 94-6.

With good support from Andrew Bryson (29), he coaxed more runs out of the tail and, with an unbeaten 85, got Keswick through to 187-8.

When Workington had limped to 57-6 and then 91-7, it looked odds on a Keswick win.

But professional Gakasinghe was still there and he found a willing partner in Matt Young. They put on 73 for the eighth wicket with Young contributing 45 of them.

Eventually the admirable Gajasinghe, with an unbeaten 81, got Workington home at 188-8 with two overs to spare. Kumara took 6-40 for Keswick.

Tomorrow, Keswick have a good test when they face the reviving Furness at Fitz Park.

Premier Division games: Keswick v Furness (10am start); Lindal Moor v Cockermouth (1pm start); Millom v Dalton (10am start); Whitehaven v Cleator (10am start); Wigton v Carlisle (10am start); Workington v Haverigg (1pm start).