Grant Reid was the toast of Workington cricket club – on his 21st birthday. Reid scored his maiden century to help the 2016/17 champions to an opening day win in the new-style Cumbria Cricket League’s Premier Division, beating last season’s runners-up Cleator by 59 runs.

His ton came off 135 balls and the opener was out in the final over for an excellent 106.

Reid had lost his opening partner Kristian Moffat at 17 but brother Callum Moffat joined him and together they put on 114 for the second wicket.

Moffat (56), Adam Chambers (24) and Simon Beare (23) all gave Reid solid support as eventually the innings closed on 243-7. Remarkably both David Blackwell and Darren Clark returned identical figures of 15-2-63-3.

Cleator lost three early wickets for 44, all to Chambers, but they added 72 before Kristian Moffat took two quick wickets and the home side looked in trouble at 116-5.

Watson, though, continued to resist and was eventually seventh out at 165 for a belligerent 93 off 110 balls which included 12 fours.

Dan McDermott mopped up the Cleator tail, finishing with 4-20 as they were dismissed for 184.

Last season, as defending champions, Workington were beaten at home by Carlisle.

Carlisle won The city side repeated the feat again by winning at the home of the 2018 champions Cockermouth, easing to victory by five wickets with nearly 3-2 overs to spare.

The champions were asked to bat first at Sandair, where Matthew Sempill batted well at the top of the order.

He made 73 off 117 balls and hit seven fours and six. The problem for Cockermouth was that several partners got a start but couldn’t really build from there. Greg Platten (23) in a stand of 53 for the second wicket did best in the face of some steady, accurate bowling from Carlisle. They eventually finished their 50 overs on 181-8 with new Carlisle pro Mike Slack taking 3-49. There was also a very good spell of 15 overs from Fraser Conn which brought him 2-37.and Carlisle batted sensibly in reply, to clinch the win.

Best partnership was between Davidson and skipper Marc Brown (30) for the third wicket which contributed 67 to the cause.

Leg spinner Mark Middleton bowled tidily for Cockermouth, taking 2-35 from his 11 overs.

Chris Hodgson left Cockermouth to rejoin Wigton as pro, replacing Carlisle-bound Slack.

Keswick were well beaten by Millom as the visitors’ professional Sameer Sadamai made 126 as Millom raced to 242-6.

Then Sadamai did most of the damage, taking 5-44 as Keswick were eventually all out for 131 in 40.4 overs with opener William Atkinson (26) top-scoring.

Chris Hodgson and fellow new arrival Martyn Turner played prominent roles in Wigton’s opening win by seven wickets against Whitehaven at Lowmoor Road.

Turner, the former Baggrow and Workington all-rounder, opened the bowling and took 3-24 from just seven overs while Hodgson weighed in with 2-19 and Glen Liddle took 3-25 as Whitehaven were bundled out for 98 in 34.3 overs.

Nathan Carmichael, batting at seven, top-scored for Whitehaven with 31.

Skipper Nico Watt (34) and opening partner Matthew Reid (32) put Wigton well on their way to a comfortable win in 34.4 overs.

Newly-promoted Egremont looked in trouble at 27-4 at home to Dalton but a fine knock of 70 by Mark Ponticelli, aided by 30 from Jon-Paul Dixon got them to got a respectable 165 in just over 41 overs but Dalton needed only 32.1 overs to reach their target with six wickets to spare as the professional Waduge hit 66 and opener Robert Jones (53) did the bulk of the scoring.

Scott Coady took three of the four wickets to fall for 60.

Furness will lead the challenge from south Cumbria and they won their opener at Lindal Moor by five wickets.

Electing to bat Lindal found it hard going against Mark Daly (4-26) and Sachith Patharana (3-28) and were bowled-out for 136 in 33.5 overs.

Professional Janith De Silva top-scored with 34 and then took 3-26 as Furness reached 137-5 and victory. Opener Ryan Griffiths top-scored with 35.