EXCEPTIONAL individual performances from Toby Bulcock and Mattie McKiernan spearheaded Cumberland's first Championship victory of the season at Furness CC.

McKiernan followed up his first innings century with an undefeated 86 as Cumberland beat Northumberland by five wickets just before tea on the last day.

Set 175 to win after the visitors lost their last two wickets early in the morning session, Cumberland were rocking as Sean Tindale and Sameet Brar reduced them to 51 for 5.

But McKiernan, dropped on one off a caught and bowled chance to Brar, made the most of his good fortune with another brilliant innings, hitting eleven fours and a towering six over mid wicket.

McKiernan found a great partner in Sam Wood who played a superb supporting role in the unbroken, match-winning partnership of 126 for the sixth wicket. Wood finished on 32 not out as the pair battled hard to see Cumberland through a decidedly rocky patch on another hot day.

Earlier Bulcock took the last two wickets to finish with seven for 108 off a marathon 45 overs and match figures of 11 for 165 off 74 overs.

With McKiernan unable to bowl due to a finger injury Bulcock took on the strike bowler role with aplomb in another great individual performance for the county, passing 200 Championship wickets in his 35th match on the second day.

Bulcock became only the fifth Cumberland bowler to achieve the feat behind Marcus Sharp (344 wickets), Malcolm Woods (275), Tommy Thompson (257) and David Halliwell (221).

He also shared a county record ninth-wicket stand of 94 with McKiernan in the first innings to help Cumberland reach 285, a lead of 144.

McKiernan was last man out for exactly 100, his maiden Cumberland century after a last wicket stand of 34 with Workington's Matty Lowden on debut.

Lowden took two wickets and bowled well with Wigton pro Michael Slack earning his first county five-for, taking five for 29 as Northumberland were bowled out for 141 in their first innings.

Barrovian Sam Dutton led Cumberland's response with a superb 84 off 89 balls including 13 fours on his home ground but despite his efforts Cumberland were struggling at 157 for 8 before McKiernan led the way to an ultimately match-defining first innings lead of 144.

Alex Simpson top-scored for Northumberland in both innings with 49 and 76 and Brar and Tindale both had impressive games with bat and ball. But danger man Jacques du Toit, the Northumberland captain was trapped leg before by Slack for 10 in the first innings and superbly caught and bowled by Bulcock for 36 in the second after threatening to cut loose. Wicketkeeper Ben Howarth was outstanding behind the stumps.

Result: Unicorns Championship, Eastern Division: Northumberland 141 (A Simpson 49, M Slack 5-29, T Bulcock 4-57) and 318 (A Simpson 76, S Brar 63, S Tindale 45no, T Bulcock 7-108)

Cumberland 285 (M McKiernan 100, S Dutton 84, S Brar 5-76, S Tindale 4-70) and 177-5 (M McKiernan 86no).

Cumberland (23pts) defeated Northumberland (4pts) by 5 wickets.