Match week 1: Roundup

The Westmorland Cricket League got underway in glorious sunshine with two of the teams tipped for success meeting at Clifton Park, Forton.

Shireshead captain Tom Jacques won the toss and opted to bat first. Burneside skipper Ben Leacock (1/11) claimed the wicket of Joe Cunliffe (1), but Jacques (34) found a partner in 16-year-old Ernie Collinson who showed why he is one of the most highly regarded young players in the area.

Collinson made 67 from 110 balls, hitting eight fours before he was run out. Shireshead scored 147/6. Cunliffe (2/24) and Jake Agar (2/20) reduced Burneside to 25/3, but debutant Ben Phillips (39) kept the scoreboard moving, but he was caught and bowled by Jacques (3/19) to leave Burneside 55/5. Steve Cooper (40) and Marcus Oates (12) rallied but when they were separated, Shireshead were able to remove the later order to secure a hard-fought 27-run win.

Sedgwick were the other winners with captain Jonny Matthews taking 6/19 as Trimpell were routed for 58 - only opener Paul Thompson (33) making double figures. Lee Tattersall took 3/16. Carl Bevan (37 not out) and Aaron Lomas (20 not out) knocked the target off within 17 overs.

The returning opener, Craig Buchanan made 68 from 107 balls as he anchored the innings for Westgate. He received good support from Garry Tattersall (31) but the later order couldn’t fully capitalise as four run outs helped Arnside restrict the home team to 162/8.

Jason Bingley (20) and Alex Davidson (29) led the response, but faced with the guile of Zak Buchanan (4/11) and the skill of Andrew Nisbet (3/16) the visitors were never really in contention, and they needed last pair Adam Richardson (9 not out) and Lee Pidgeon (6 not out) to bat out the last 10 overs for a draw.

Andy Butler (62 not out) and John Hughes (66) enabled Bare to score a useful 169/4 on a slow pitch that made fluent scoring difficult. Phil Bovis (45) and Mike Wills (57 not out) put Milnthorpe in contention, but an energetic 17 not out from Scott Singleton was not enough for them to reach the target and Milnthorpe finished on 151/3.

On Sunday there was a thriller at Coniston as the second team beat Netherfield fourths by one run. Richard Ivison (40) top scored for the home team, with James Longley taking 3/23. Charlie Nicholls (39) batted well, but good bowling from Steve Gosling (3/14) and Robert Muir (4/20) ultimately denied the visitors.

Ben Brown (46) and Adam Coates (35) helped Shireshead thirds to 165/8 at Kirkby Lonsdale, whose seconds were spun out by Conor Passenger (5/23) and Sam Portmann top scored with 17.

Brown took 3/6 as Kirkby were all out for 79.

Extras (13) top scored for Morecambe fourths with only Dineshmanickam Annadurai (10) making it into double figures. Dan Noar took 3/10.

Perhaps having a Michelin starred chef preparing tea didn’t work for Sedgwick thirds as only Tom Willacy (19) and Cam Hankey (8 not out) made any contribution as Archie Graves (5/14) and Surenthar Nedunchelian (3/8) folded the home team for 49.

Bare seconds were the first team to travel to Ulverston to play the league’s new entrants. Carl Botterill (29) top scored but Lauren Burgess (4/19) made early inroads and Liam Burrow took 3/5 as Ulverston thirds made 60.

Burrow made 27 as Bare limped over the line to win by three wickets despite a career best 5/9 from Oliver Carr.

Arjun Manjare (39) and James Main (15) added 57 for the first wicket for Westgate thirds, but spinner Mike Allen tied the middle and late order in knots taking 6/25 as Westgate were all out for 106. Mark Kelsall (44 not out) and Mark Ward (41 not out) took Burneside seconds to a comfortable eight-wicket win.

Fixtures
Saturday 23 April

Division 1

Arnside v Sedbergh School 2nds
Bare v Sedgwick
Heysham v Burneside
Kirkby Lonsdale v Shireshead
Trimpell v Kendal 2nds
Warton v Milnthorpe

Division 2

Ambleside v Cartmel
Coniston v Windermere
Holme v Silverdale
Sedgwick 2nds v Ingleton
Shireshead 2nds v Carnforth 2nds
Westgate 2nds v Netherfield 3rds

Division 3

Bolton le Sands v Morecambe 3rds
Galgate v Heysham 2nds
Silverdale 2nds v Trimpell 2nds
 
Division 4

Sedbergh School 3rds v Westgate 3rds

Sunday 24 April

Division 3

Arnside 2nds v Holme 2nds
Carnforth 3rds v Leven Valley
Kendal 3rds v Milnthorpe 2nds

Division 4

Burneside 2nds v Ingleton 2nds
Morecambe 4ths v Shireshead 3rds
Netherfield 4ths v Bare 2nds
Sedbergh School 3rds v Kirkby Lonsdale 2nds
Ulverston 3rds v Sedgwick 3rds
Westgate 3rds v Coniston 2nds

Coniston CC - the scene for a thrilling 1 run win on Sunday