Despite a superb all-round performance from Lasith Lakshan, Dalton suffered a heartbreaking one-wicket defeat at Cockermouth in the semi-finals of the County Cup last Sunday.

The match at Sandair went right to the wire as Cockermouth’s final pairing managed to get the home side to reach their target of 171 off the final delivery.

Both teams recovered from shaky starts in what turned out to be a thriller that turned this way and that throughout, reminiscent of the recent Cricket World Cup final, in which Cockermouth graduate Ben Stokes played a starring role.

The home side won the toss and stuck Dalton in to bat and this paid early dividends, as Marc Gibson was dismissed at the end of the first over for a six-ball duck by Kavishka Anjula.

Jordan Woodend (4) and Callum Leach (14) then followed to leave the visitors floundering on 23-3, but a brilliant fourth-wicket partnership between Lakshan and wicketkeeper Liam Curwen changed the dynamic of their innings.

They added 113 runs while together at the crease, with the pairing only broken up when Curwen was bowled on 67 by Matthew Sempill.

Wickets then began to tumble regularly again, although Lakshan was able to hang around and make 59 as Dalton posted 170-8 from their 40 overs, as Anjula and Matthew Hodgson claimed two wickets apiece for Cockermouth.

At the start of the hosts’ reply, Matthew Holmes (3-27) produced a superb spell of bowling to dismiss Sempill and Greg Platten for ducks before claiming the wicket of Marcus Stables (15) to leave Cockermouth on 53-3.

That became 84-5 after Lakshan (3-29) had Anjula (11) caught by Gibson before the Sri Lankan professional ran out Sam Sharp (5) and when Woodend trapped Cockermouth captain Alex Grainger lbw for 52, Dalton had victory in sight.

However, the eighth wicket pair of Sam Scully (27) and Mark Middleton (28*) gave Cockermouth hope again and they claimed the hardest-earned of victories when tailender Hodgson nudged the final ball away for a single to book a final date against either Carlisle of Cleator.

The Smith Cup final between Barrow 2nd XI and Egremont 2nd XI was due to be held at Haverigg on the same day, but was abandoned without a ball bowled due to torrential overnight rain.