FURNESS cruised to an eight-wicket victory over North Lancs and Cumbria League Premier Division bottom club Whitehaven.

Batting first the West Cumbrians were all out in the 35th over for just 77. Furness professional Seth Rance had another good return with 5 for 17, ably assisted by Jordan Buchanan with 3 for 21.

In reply Furness went to a comfortable win in the 19th over at 81 for 2, Mike Gadsden making 45.

Winning the toss against Dalton, Keswick had first knock and with 104 from Dan Gaskell, Greg Cameron’s 57 and 56 from Geeth Kumara, the visitors were 253 for 6 at tea.

Dalton made a spirited reply, Jack Singleton leading the way with 81, supported by skipper Daniel Sharpe’s 45. But the home team were 213 for 7 when overs ran out. Dan Gaskell had a day to remember, as he followed his century by taking 5 for 67 in his 15 overs.

Put into bat by Wigton, Cockermouth struggled to 69 for 4, opener Gareth White making 39. Marcus Stables, 49, and Chris Hodgson, 34, made some recovery taking the score to 144 for 6, but after 50 overs Cockermouth were 173 for 9. Wigton’s Mike Holliday took 4 for 37 in 13 overs.

Wigton started brightly, opener Nico Watt making 64, with eight fours, but 109 for 3 became 132 for 7. Rain then reduced Wigton’s target to 150, but when overs ran out they were 142 for 8 giving Cockermouth an eight-run victory. Angus Harman was unbeaten on 38. Matt Sempill returned 4 for 10 in eight overs.

Cleator had to beat Workington to keep in the title race, but had a poor day with the bat to be all out for 82 in the 35th over. Adam Chambers took 6 for 11 in 40 balls. The unbeaten Premier Division leaders won in the 18th over making 85 for 1, with Kaushalya Gajasinghe unbeaten on 52.

It was some game at Carlisle, where the home side in first against Millom would be happy at tea.

The Division One leaders made 228 for 9 in their 50 overs. Ben Davidson made 104, with eight fours, and skipper Marc Brown 57, with five fours.

Millom’s Graham Dawson took 5 for 62 in 13 overs. After recent poor results, Millom almost repeated their win at Carlisle on the opening day of the season, but had to settle for a tie as they too were 228 for 9 after 50 overs, and it was seven points each. Dawson followed up his bowling success with a brilliant innings of 91, with eight fours and three sixes.

In first against Ulverston, Lindal Moor were 222 for 5 after their 50 overs, Mark Daly making 62 and Cal McDougall 57. Gareth Yates bowled 15 overs and conceded only 30 runs.

After tea Ulverston were soon in trouble and were 33 all out in the 27th over, Ben Dryden making 21 not out.

Moor veteran John Atkinson produced amazing figures, bowling eight overs, with seven maidens, and taking six wickets for one run.

Winning the toss against Kirkby, Seascale made an excellent start but after the openers went, four more wickets went cheaply.

A fine seventh-wicket stand between Steve Brown jnr, 67, and Danny Lee, 40 not out, saw the home team put 246 for 8 on the board at tea. Mike Fugler, 3 for 20, and Mark Etchells, 3 for 79, were top wicket takers.

Kirkby’s innings had a bad start, with the first four batsmen out for a combined total of 21.

A gallant recovery by Sam Marshall and skipper Rob Fugler, with 68 and 42 respectively, saw Kirkby go to 196 all out in the 49th over. Steve Brown jnr., 3 for 12, in 11 overs, and Danny Lee, 3 for 52 in 12.4 overs, both had good all-round games.

After losing an early wicket, the Haverigg top order made an excellent recovery against Workington seconds.

Dalton Polius made 81 and Jordan Postlethwaite 77 not out to see the villagers to 207 for 8 in their 50 overs. Workington’s Dave Chisnall took 3 for 45.

Workington made a steady start but the introduction of Craig Armstrong to the attack saw a big change in the game as the middle and lower order were swept away.

Armstrong took 6 for 35 in 15 overs and Polius 3 for 16 in nine overs, leaving Workington 134 all out. Opener Jordan Whinn top scored with 39.

Having first knock against Hawcoat Park, Cockermouth were always in trouble and were all out for 95 in 37 overs. Hawcoat’s Callum Muncaster took 5 for 33. Park went to the win in the 24th over, at 98 for 3.

Winning the toss against Egremont, Dalton A had a moderate day with the bat. Matthew Holmes and Mike Walker each got into the twenties, but after 31 overs the visitors were all out for 86. Egremont’s Steve Holliday, 4 for 23 and Sam Farrar, 4 for 26, did the damage. After tea, Egremont went to the win in the 20th over making 90 for 3, with skipper Shaun Bostock unbeaten on 24.

Put in to bat against Cleator A, Vickerstown were dismissed for 137 in 50 overs. Rain reduced the overs available to Cleator who now faced a new target of 69 to win. Cleator made 69 for 2 to take the winning points.

Furness A won the toss and batted against Lindal A, and to very good effect, making 269 all out in 48.1 overs. George Smith made 84 and and his older brother Tom 66. Despite the big total, Bradley Stephens had figures of 5 for 21 in 9.1 overs.

In reply the Moor were never comfortable and were bowled out for 130 in the 40th over. Adam Birchall took 3 for 18 in eight overs, and Luke Shaw 3 for 52 in 11 overs.