Eight centuries last week

It’s match day and there’s the chance of a shower. Little will damp the enthusiasm ahead of the Heysham v Sedgwick match where Heysham’s star studded batting lineup will expect to be tested by Sedgwick’s vaunted bowling attack. The game of the day in Division 2 sees table toppers Shireshead 2nds visit fortress Coniston. Coniston don’t always travel well, but they are formidable at home even without experienced batsman Bob Simpson.

It was another record-breaking weekend in the Reader’s Westmorland Cricket League when as many as eight centuries were scored. More of that later as in Division 1, Heysham extended their lead to 22 points over second placed Sedgwick with an 8 wicket win at Kirkby Lonsdale. Graeme Cassidy (5/22) reduced the home side to 55/6 before youngsters Luke Troughton (50) and Charlie Barry (21) added 73 for the seventh wicket. Troughton made a much-deserved maiden fifty in senior cricket enabling his side to finish on 133/7. Lewis Plackett (69 not out) and Andy Powers (43) completed the win. Sedgwick were struggling at 56/5 at Morecambe but recovered to score 206/8 thanks to Chris Evans (49) and Tom Ridley (32). Crucially, Sedgwick captain Jonny Matthews declared leaving Morecambe 2nds 48 overs to bat. With County junior Oliver Sanday (5/13) taking a starring role, the outstanding prospect was entrusted with the final over and from the 5th ball he trapped Hamid Butt lbw to seal a dramatic win. Steve Mawson (39), Ben Dobson (48) and Mark Routledge (31) had put them in a strong position at 160/6 but Sanday had different ideas. The two top teams meet at Heysham on Saturday.

Ben Phillips scored 108 for Burnside as they enjoyed the fast-scoring conditions at Arnside. With Ethan Ellwood (51) scoring his fourth 50 of the season, and David Batty (37) and Curtis Nicholson (32) the visitors declared on 313/7 from 44 overs. Rob Shepherd took 3/62 for Arnside, whose reply was hampered by the absence of Adam Richardson. Nevertheless, the batsmen worked hard led by Mike Shepherd (33) and secured a draw on 159/9. Nicholson was the pick of the bowlers with 3/12. Tom Jacques (74) and Joe Cunliffe (73) added 106 for Shireshead at Carnforth before Adam Murphy (38) and Joe Oliver (32 not out) accelerated the innings to 228/3 declared from 41 overs. Jacques (3/43) and Oliver (3/17) ensured the additional overs weren’t needed as Carnforth 2nds were all out for 141.

Bare’s winning streak came to an end at Kendal. John Hughes (52), Saeed Adeem (34) and Robbie White (30) led Bare to post a useful 179/8 as Oli Tyson (3/33) and Andy Dugdale (3/22) kept things under control. Tyson then made a superb 103 not out, his maiden hundred taking only 89 balls. With Paul Dodds making 64 not out, Kendal 2nds won by 10 wickets with 16 overs to spare. Liam Teasdale (21) and Richard Herron (37) were the only batsmen to make double figures for Holme as the home side scored a below par 110 against Warton. Graeme Crowther took 4/20 and Graham Kellett 3/21. Jack Bolton (33) and Crowther (26 not out) completed a 5-wicket win.

Silverdale and Shireshead 2nds remain locked at the top of Division 2. Silverdale were grateful to Keith Forster (40) who held together the middle order to enable the leaders to finish on 181, Ryan McMenamin taking 3/57. McMenamin in the unaccustomed opener’s position carried his bat for 39, but no other Westgate 2nds batsmen were able to match him as Paul Moffatt removed the middle order, Westgate being dismissed for 116. They had better fortune on Sunday in a winning draw against Sedbergh School 2nds. David Hughes (32) top scored in 178/9 which the school side seemed to be overhauling as Tom Newman (50) and Alex Mounsey (33) took them to 113/1, but off spinner Sunil Naikwadi (4/36) dismissed both batsmen and their side settled for a draw on 150/8. Shireshead made short work of Morecambe 3rds. With Aiden Weir (3/45) and Stan Collinson (3/2) the visitors were all out for 102 which Shireshead passed without loss within 15 overs, Paul Yates making 34 not out and Stan Collinson 53 not out.

The game of the day and, very possibly, the game of the year took place at Heysham. Mike Burton made a brilliant 134 from 113 balls for Coniston (17 fours, 4 sixes) as the visitors compiled a daunting 264/8. Jamie Antcliffe must have delved into his attic to find his bowling boots and was the pick with 3/39. Antcliffe (78) and Richard Townsend (50) added 136 for the first wicket, but at 175/5 with Robert Muir (4/59) and Mark Fryer (3/42) looking to have weathered the storm it needed James Hesketh (31) and Harry Wallbank (40) to rekindle victory hopes. Both fell and the last over started with 7 needed with the last pair at the wicket. Dan Cronin (5 not out) played the shot of his life to strike a boundary, and with three needed from two balls he took a single leaving on strike his partner, 15 year old Charlotte Whitaker who had at that point not faced a ball. She calmly stroked the ball through the covers and scampered the two needed for the victory. The ground which had collectively held its breath erupted in cheers and applause. When the dust had settled it became clear that Heysham had scored the highest ever score batting second to win a game in Division 2, it was the highest run aggregate ever in a Division 2 game and it is thought that Mike Burton’s 134 is the highest ever score in defeat. Wow.

Cartmel’s Bob Davies (130 not out) made his second hundred of the season. Joe Cowperthwaite (68) shared a stand of 123 as the home side declared on 273/4 after 41 overs. Oliver Glover (44) and Seb Jones (39) rallied but Sedbergh School 2nds were all out for 135. Joe Atkinson took 5/31 for Cartmel and John Burton 3/36. Netherfield 3rds made 221/8 against Ambleside who replied with 203/5. Craig Walmsley (38), Paul Salmon (40), Taylor Backhouse (33), Caleb Wilson (36) and Harry Smith (31) were all in the runs for Netherfield. Hugh Tyson (41) and Rick Smith (41) took Ambleside to 110/1, but both were removed by James Longley (3/36) and despite Gavin Clayton’s unbeaten 30 Ambleside couldn’t push for the win. Only Dan Noar (26) made double figures as former Barrow man Matthew Studt (4/17) and Darren Wills (4/24) bowled out Sedgwick 2nds for 85. Steve Bowman then made 54 not out with some aplomb as Milnthorpe won by 8 wickets.

Ingleton have gone clear at the top of Division 3 after a 3 wicket win against Galgate. Matthew France (3/33) and John Kelsall (3/9) dismissed the visitors for 99, but with Asif Mansoor taking 3/13 it needed Louis Potter (108) and a maiden fifty from Myles Bowen (59) second placed Carnforth 3rds were unable to defend 258/7 against an experienced Leven Valley side as Kyle Hinds (114 not out) and Tony Johnson (67 not out) added 149 for the 5th wicket. Hinds faced just 75 balls hitting 16 fours and 3 sixes. Bare 2nds scored 208/6 which Silverdale 2nds equalled, but Zak Albon took a hat-trick to take the final 3 wickets, bowling Silverdale out, which means that Bare took 11 points from the game and Silverdale 9. The in-form Sam Gates (4/17) led Bolton le Sands’ attack to dismiss Holme 2nds for 104, Doug Bousfield chipping in with 4/20. Gates (28 not out) then showed his batting skills as Sands triumphed by 7 wickets. Burneside 2nds beat Arnside 2nds by 10 wickets with Robert wight taking 5/24 and mark ward 3/7 as the visitors were bowled out for 102. Ward made 58 not out as the target was reached within 17 overs. and new Trimpell captain Danny Halstead had an inspirational day to give his side a 7 wicket win against Windermere. Lewis Rands-Trevor (43) and Joey Creasey (28) got Windermere to 91/3 but Halstead took 6/9 as they collapsed to 119. Windermere reduced Trimpell to 29/3 only for Halstead to smash 79 not out (10 fours and 4 sixes).

In Division 4 North, Ulverston 3rds knocked off 160 to beat Coniston 2nds by 7 wickets, with Oliver Williams scoring 101. Earlier Hector Westmorland-Nicholson (48) and Chris Rouse (50) had put Coniston in a good position, Brett Quested’s 65 underpinned Burneside 2nds total in a rain affected draw. Despite Daniel Gordon (3/31) and Nick Sharpe (3/43) Burneside totalled 202. Gordon made 40 as Ingleton 2nds finished on 115/6 from 36 overs, Georgina Brown carrying her bat for 27. Ross Swidenbank (5/20) made early inroads for Kendal 3rds, but Travis Oldham counterattacked to lead a recovery from 58/7. Oldham made 86 not out from 67 balls with 14 fours and a six. Paul Hodgson (72) and Mike Dugdale (47 not out) took Kendal to an 8-wicket win.

In Division 4 South, Andrew Metcalfe’s 121 not out from 89 balls (14 fours and 6 sixes) gave Kirkby Lonsdale 2nds victory over Milnthorpe 2nds, despite 5/36 from Luke Baldwin. Ollie Higgs took 5/47 and Josh Forrest 3/22 as Milnthorpe made 103 in reply to Kirkby’s 183, Bob Baldwin scoring 37. Joe Jackson (50) and Ethan Packard (35) were the highest scorers in Morecambe 4ths 202/7. Oliver Toulmin took 3/27 for Heysham 3rds who replied with 139. Aaron Cross (31) and Dave Whitaker (37) contributed for Heysham but Jake Rigby’s 5/37 after a tight spell from Pickard (3/16) saw them off for 139. Brad Brentnall took 3/24 as Westgate 3rds were all out for 123. Brentnall then made a masterly 52 not out as his side scrambled home by 1 wicket despite the efforts of Matthew Bradshaw (3/10) and Usayeed Islam (3/14). Shireshead 3rds recovered from 24/3 as David Sloan (79) and Paul Coulton (84 not out) dominated the Sedbergh School 3rds bowling. Hugo took 4/41 for the school who were all out for 94, Thomas Atkinson taking 3/31 and Rowan Yates (4/22).

In the Hackney and Leigh Trophy, Heysham and Shireshead progressed to the quarterfinals with wins against Morecambe 2nds and Bare, whilst Sedgwick beat Kendal 2nds and Kirkby Lonsdale beat Holme, which means that unless they beat Kirkby and, in the process, overtake the net run rate of Kirkby or Holme, then the champions will be out of the competition in the group stages.

In the British Rose Cricket Trophy, Westgate 2nds are in the quarterfinals after beating Morecambe 3rds, whilst Netherfield 3rds and Sedgwick 2nds go through at the expense of Ambleside on net run rate after Netherfield beat Sedgwick. Shireshead 2nds beat Heysham 2nds and will be joined in the quarterfinals by Milnthorpe.