Last updated at 13:02, Thursday, 03 May 2012

Three teams were promoted into the Premiership last season and their first matches in the top flight resulted in differing fortunes.

Shap came down to earth with a bump with a comprehensive defeat at Caldbeck and direct contrast to Culgaith’s seven wicket victory over Carlisle II.

Appleby II’s defeat at home to Stainton I was less clear cut, ultimately losing by 14 runs.

While Phil Brabbins was still at the crease Appleby chances were rosy, but five wickets apiece for Jonny Ridley and Jeff Marshall dispelled any such illusions.

It was a chastening experience for Carlisle as the third team were also outplayed by Scotby.

Braithwaite, relegated last season, made their mark in Division One with an eight wicket victory over Kirkby Stephen, one of the teams they would expect to be vying with for promotion.

The other demoted team, Temple Sowerby, not at full strength, lost in a low scoring game at Patterdale.

Whether it was lack of batting practice, or a desire to finish as soon as possible in Saturday’s arctic conditions, low scoring matches appeared to be the norm.

The exception was at Lanercost where Langholm, playing in their first match in the EVCL, travelled the short distance over the border to beat Lanercost III by four wickets.

On a day where the bowler held sway, patience was the key when it came to batting emphasised by the fact that most of the highest scorers remained unbeaten; in the Premiership Mike Strong (Caldbeck), debutant Simon Brittain (Scotby), Dan Fawcett (Stainton) and Richard Errington (Culgaith) were instrumental in their team’s success.

The best example, albeit in defeat, came at Braithwaite where Kirkby Stephen’s opener, Sam Bell, remained undefeated and scored two thirds of his teams total in the process.

There were some exceptional bowling spells throughout the divisions well illustrated in the Wetheral v Lowther match where three bowlers completed their spells at less than two runs an over.

Best performance of the day was at Great Corby where debutant Mark Cameron, not introduced until the 13th over, proceeded to take six Carleton wickets.

The away side had the final say in what turned out to be the quirkiest finish of the day, and possibly the season.

With the last pair at the wicket Great Corby seem to have succeeded in gaining a draw with a single being taken off the last ball of the innings.

However, the umpire called a no ball, which allowed Martin Cowley another delivery, which he duly used with good effect. Henry Parfitt, another debutant who won’t forget this match in a hurry, was caught by Sean McDermott taking the two points in the balance west of the river.

First published at 11:30, Thursday, 03 May 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk