PROFESSIONAL Rishi Dhawan and opening batsman Nathan Waterston led the way as Furness kept up their pursuit at the top of the leading trio in the North Lancs and Cumbria Premier League.

Dhawan took seven wickets and Waterston – now set to return to football with Barrow AFC – scored an unbeaten 79 as they defeated Millom by eight wickets at Furness Park.

The visitors chose to bat, but were reduced to 64 for 6.

It took a typical innings of 42 from Danny Mackie, with seven fours, to take them to 136 all out in 32.2 overs. Dhawan returned 7 for 44 in his 15 overs.

In reply, the Furness openers put on 82 before Wyll Stanway was run out for 32, They went to a comfortable win in 21.5 overs, with Waterson not out.

The result moves them above Carlisle and into third position, still 24 points behind runaway leaders Cleator.

Haverigg climbed off the foot of the table with a nail-biting one-wicket win against Lindal Moor at Poolside, overtaking their opponents and Dalton with a first victory of the season.

The Moor decided to bat and lost wickets regularly. Only opener Callum McDougall, with 61, and number nine Craig Crawford, with 30 not out, ensured their side reached 169 all out in the 48th over.

Haverigg pro Roy Kaia, with 4 for 21 in 15 overs, and Robbie Evans, who claimed 3 for 59, were the main wicket-takers.

Haverigg openers Dale Graham, 52, and skipper Drew Postlewaite, 36, gave their side a good start, but wickets went down regularly and, with nine men out, it was left to Liam Ford to get the win at 170 for 9 in the 33rd over.

Lindal pro Keshan Wijerathne returned 6 for 32 in nine overs.

Dalton were well-beaten at home to Wigton to fall to the bottom of the table.

Wigton batted well, with Mike Slack, 92, Nico Watt, 55, and Michael Hill, 53, seeing their side to 288 for 7 at tea.

Dalton, having to score at just under six an over, were a little below the needed rate, but wickets fell and the side were all out for 167 in 32.3 overs, Liam Curwen making 63.

Wigton’s Ben Purdham took 5 for 49.

Cleator disposed on one of their main rivals, Carlisle, in a high- scoring game in the north of the county.

The leaders were in first and, with 78 from David Watson, were 243 all out. Henry Walker and Fraser Conn each took four wickets.

In reply, Carlisle were 226 for 9 in their 50 overs. Jonathan Davidson made 58 and Marc Brown 48 not out. Cleator’s David Blackwell took 6 for 44.

Last year’s champions claimed a much-needed home win over Keswick at the Ernest Valentine Ground.

The visitors won the toss and batted, but soon found themselves 22 for 3. It was left to pro Geeth Kumara to come to the rescue, as he was unbeaten on 85 when overs ran out. With late support from Andrew Tyson, 29, Keswick made 187 for 8.

After tea, the Workington top and middle-order, with the exception of Kaushalya Gajasinghe, was blown away as they fell to 57 for 6.

But the tail-enders, especially number nine Matthew Young – who scored 45 – helped Gajasinghe, who finished on 81 not out, see Workington to the win at 188 for 8 in 48 overs. Kumara took 6 for 40 in his 15 overs

Cockermouth batted first at home to Whitehaven and lost two early wickets. It was left to opener Alex Grainger, with 87 – including 15 fours – and Marcus Stables – with a valuable 49 – to see the home side to 237 all out in 50 overs.

Whitehaven’s Jonathan Stewart took 4 for 28 in 10 overs and Mohammad Yasin 4 for 62 in 15 overs.

The visitors made a steady start, but nobody went on to make a major score, and from 160 for 6 Whitehaven were 191 all out. Mohammad Yasin made 32 and Chadd Pearson 31.

Cockermouth’s Sam Thompson took 4 for 42 in 7 overs

In Division One, leaders Egremont kept up the pace at the top with a home with over Furness A.

Egremont had first knock and, with steady batting from the top and middle-order, were 173 all out in the 39th over. Mark Ponticelli top-scored with 34.

Furness bowlers George Smith, 4 for 44, and Sam Stephens, 4 for 50, bowled well.

The Furness reply never got off the ground, and they were all out in 42 overs for 132. Egremont’s Shaun Bostock, with 3 for 26, and Coady Scott, 3 for 35, did most of the damage.

Hawcoat Park remain among Egremont’s closest pursuers after a narrow win at Ulverston.

Park batted first and, with 59 from David Thorburn, were all out in the 37th over for 157. Ulverston’s Paul Storey took 6 for 47 in 14.4 overs.

Ulverston made a very poor start in reply, falling to 22 for 4 and then 84 for 7.

Steve Olliver stopped the rot to finish 49 not out in a total of 150 all out in the 37th over, only eight short of their target. Hawcoat’s Callum Lucas took 5 for 50 in 12.2 overs

Barrow A’s batsmen made a good start at home to Kirkby, but with only 17 runs coming from the last five in the order, the home side were 233 for 9 in 50 overs.

Guy Heffernan, 67, Patrick Allington, 48, and Adam Hunter, 36, were the main contributors, while Matthew Bruce and Alastair Bradley each took three wickets. Mark Etchells bowled a remarkable spell, his 15 overs costing 25 runs and earning him one wicket.

Kirkby went to the win at quite a rate, with 96 from Rob Fugler and 87 from James Thornton seeing them total 236 for 2 in 30.4 overs.

Vickerstown had a bad day with the bat at home to Cockermouth A, and were all out in the 39th over for 91. Craig Daly top-scored with 29, and Cockermouth’s Matthew Hodgson took 3 for 29 in 12 overs.

In reply, Cockermouth struggled at times, but went to the win at 94 for 5 in the 20th over, Liam Jackson making 28.

There was a glut of runs in the game between Seascale and Workington A.

The hosts batted first and, mainly due to Andrew Knott’s 104, Adam Brown’s 73, and 41 from Joe Hammond, were 315 for 5 at tea.

Workington also enjoyed batting, Ben Scott making 90 and Paul McKeown 68, as they reached 272 for 9 when overs ran out. Reece Robinson took 4 for 68 in 14 overs.