CUMBERLAND crashed out of the Unicorns KO Trophy at the quarter-final stage, beaten in frustrating circumstances by seven runs under the Duckworth Lewis method against long distance travellers Devon at Furness.

Light drizzle twice intervened as Cumberland set out in pursuit of 237 for victory, the second delay finally causing 17 overs to be docked off their innings.

When the teams returned Cumberland, with six wickets in hand were handed a revised target of 162, needing 50 off four overs.

Skipper Gary Pratt and Mattie McKiernan plundered 17 off the first over but then both fell to catches behind off pumped-up paceman Zak Bess in the space of three balls and Cumberland ended just short of their target on 154 for 9 when the game finished after 8pm.

For the first 40 overs of the Devon innings Cumberland looked in control as their bowlers restricted the visitors to 142 for 5.

Skipper Matthew Thompson survived a run-out chance on 10 to bat responsibly throughout the innings while wickets fell regularly at the other end. Chris Williams spectacularly bowled Liam Lewis and Josh Bess in a fine opening spell and Will Purser trapped Dan Pyle leg before as Devon slumped to 27 for 3.

Matthew Golding helped repair the damage with 33 before falling to a smart slip catch off McKiernan.

When McKiernan repeated to delivery to account for Jordan Finney in the middle of a superb spell of leg spin Cumberland looked well on top.

McKienan took 2 for 13 off his ten overs and even though Dominic Bess smashed three sixes before falling to a superb caught and bowled by Chris Hodgson Devon looked far short of a par total on the fine Furness track.

But the left handed Thompson took over in the last ten overs as his side plundered 94 runs, making 48 of them himself as he reached a fine century before being run out off the last ball of the innings for 106 off 158 balls, with eight fours and five sixes.

Cumberland lost wickets steadily in their replay despite several batsmen appearing set and were mindful of the Duckworth Lewis target with dark clouds threatening. When Jon Miles and Gary Knight fell in quick succession just before the second rain break the visitors edged ahead and after a long and frustrating delay Pratt's men were just unable to reverse the balance in the frantic finale in the gloaming.

RESULT: Unicorns KO Trophy quarter-final: Devon 236 for 9 (50 overs) (MW Thompson 106) beat Cumberland 154 for 9 (33 overs) by 7 runs (revised Duckworth Lewis target 162 runs) at Furness CC.