FURNESS and Cleator will battle for Higson Cup glory at the end of the month after the showpiece fell victim to the weather on Sunday.

The rearranged clash of the North Lancs and Cumbria Premier Division sides is set to take place at Haverigg on August 27.

Workington extended their lead over their Premier Division title rivals on Saturday when they beat Cleator, while Furness’ match at Carlisle was hit by the rain.

Furness won the toss and batted at Edenside, and were 112 for 2 in 26 overs when the match was abandoned, with each side taking four points.

The ball ruled the bat in a low-scoring game at Cleator, where Workington were restricted to 128 all out in the 37th over, David Rooney returning 5 for 22.

In reply, Cleator also found run-making difficult and were bowled out for 109. Adam Chambers took 5 for 14 to earn 10 valuable points.

Put into bat against Dalton, Cockermouth’s innings was dominated by skipper Gareth White’s century, which contained five fours and two sixes, and at tea, the home side were 206 for 7.

In reply, Dalton lost two early wickets, but scores of 40 from Jack Singleton, 37 from skipper Liam Curwen, and 35 from Dan Sharp, saw the visitors to 176 all out in the 47th over. Cockermouth’s Chris Hodgson took 5 for 33 in his 15 overs.

Batting first, Wigton made 198 all out in 49.1 overs against Keswick. Opener Nico Watt made 52, with eight fours, and Luke Williams 31, with two fours and a six.

Keswick’s Geeth Kumara took 4 for 33 in 14 overs and James McGown 3 for 39 in 9.1 overs.

Rain reduced Keswick’s target to 143 in 28 overs. They made a bad start with five of the top six batsmen failing to make double figures. Kumara, 52, and Stephen Moss, 44, put Keswick back in the game but they fell nine runs short, making 134 for 9 in their 28 overs. Wigton’s Jonny Honeyman took 6 for 59 in 13 overs.

Lindal Moor were in first in their Division One match against Haverigg and lost a wicket without a run on the board. Opener Sam Beckman and Nisal Francisco put on 56 before Francisco was run out for 35.

However, Moor’s remaining batsmen gave Haverigg few problems, and despite Beckman’s 83, they were all out for 164 in the 48th over. Haverigg’s Joe Lovell, with 4 for 43 in 15 overs, and Robbie Evans, 3 for 28 in seven overs, did most of the damage.

In reply, Haverigg slumped to 36 for 4, but an unbroken stand of 130 by Jordan Postlethwaite, 103, and Lovell, 36, took Haverigg to 166 for 4 and a good win.

Vickerstown batted first at Ulverston, and had to work hard for runs. Opener Andy Janes made a valuable 32, and with support from John Burns, with 28, saw the Walney side to a total of 120 all out in the 47th over. Shane Lewis bowled well to take 4 for 32 in his 15 overs.

Ulverston made a disastrous start and never recovered. A bold 34 not out from Paul Storey, batting at number nine, saw them get to 80 all out. Vickerstown skipper Gareth Benson returned 6 for 38 in his 15 overs, and his side took 10 valuable points.

Put in to bat Whitehaven’s top order were in good form against Millom. Professional Mohammad Yasin top-scored with 91, with support from Stephen Holliday, 47, and Dom Chambers, 24, and they reached 200 for 9 in their 50 overs. Graham Dawson took 5 for 50 in his 15 overs.

Millom made a good fist of getting the runs, with professional Sameera Sadamal making 84, but they were all out in the 48th over for 176.

Put into bat in their Division Two match at Dalton, Hawcoat Park were all out in 47 overs for 140. David Thorburn, 28, and Callum Muncaster, 24, were top-scorers. Mark Hollier, 3 for 19, Keith Gilliland, 3 for 21 and Jordan Woodend, 3 for 37, were the wicket-takers. Dalton won in the 31st over, totalling 143 for 1, with Woodend making an unbeaten 71 and Mike Walker 63 not out.

Division Two leaders Furness A made a mammoth 313 for 6 against a weakened Cleator A side. Tom Smith made 117 and Jonny Moses 102. In reply, Cleator were all out for 147, Stephen Lee top-scored with 83. George Smith returned 5 for 34.

Kirkby had first knock at Egremont, and with Paul Fugler’s unbeaten 85, and good support from Matthew Bruce, 42, and Mike Fugler, 35, the visitors were 229 for 6 at tea.

Egremont’s Coady Scott took 4 for 38 in his 15 overs. Egremont made a poor start with the first five batsmen making just 33 runs between them.

Lee Cruden, 28, and Luke Williams, 20, made some improvement but the home side were all out in the 45th over for 102. Mark Etchells took 3 for 26 in his 13 overs.

Having first knock against Egremont A in their Division Three match, Haverigg A made a massive 269 for 3, Joe Harvey making 160 not out and Matthew Jackson, also unbeaten, with 55.

In reply, Egremont were 92 all out, Graham Campbell making 36. Ulverston A chose to bat first and lost three early wickets against Millom A, but a big stand between Rashid Ahmad, 98 not out, and Derek Harker, 22, got their side to 138 for 5 in their 40 overs. Millom cruised to the win, making 142 for 4 in 31.4 overs. Opener Robert Thompson made 43, and Braith Conner and Richard Ivison both scored 33.

At Rainey Park, Vickerstown A batted first and made 93 for 8, with visitors Whitehaven A losing five wickets in making a winning 97.