Clark on form as Cleator edge out Whitehaven
Last updated 12:30, Thursday, 01 May 2008
THE West Cumbrian derby between Cleator and newly-promoted Whitehaven was a tight affair which went right down to the wire.
Whitehaven were bowled out for 112 and the game could have gone virtually all ways, including a tie before Cleator scrambled home at 116-9.
Batting first, Haven started well with both captain Jonny Bruce and Eddie Birkett scoring 20.
However, wickets fell at a steady rate with only Andrew Kelly (19) and Andrew Knott (19) offering any real resistance.
Jordan Clark (3-11) and David Rooney (4-32) were the pick of the home bowlers as Haven ended 112 all out.
Cleator’s response was held together by Jordan Clark (27) while Haven bowled well. However, the visitors’ efforts were not quite good enough and Cleator secured victory.
Reigning Premier Division champions Workington started the defence of their title with a disappointing defeat at Millom.
New Millom professional Nathan Murray did the early damage with 4-25 from his first spell of 10 overs.
Workington, who had been put in to bat, were reduced to 46-5 and in deep trouble as Simon Bickerstaffe also claimed the wicket of stand-in pro Karl Turner. Millom duly strolled home at 146-4 in the 42nd over. Adam Walker was Workington’s most successful bowler with 2-26.
Millom were one of four teams in the top flight to start with a win and Workington’s next opponents, Haverigg, were another.
The South Cumbrians would not have been too confident at home to Keswick after being dismissed for 133 as they were undone by Keswick’s professional Dinuk Hettiarachchi who finished with 7-34.
But Keswick batted poorly and would have been completely written-off but for an unbeaten 67 from Imran Khan. They were bowled-out for a disappointing 97.
It was tight at Edenside where Carlisle lost to Furness by two wickets, Cockermouth struggled to a draw at Penrith, and Dalton took a winning draw from their game with Duddon SC.
Workington Reserves were on the receiving end at the Valentine Ground as they lost their opening First Division game to Ulverston by 88 runs.
Wigton, facing up to life in the First Division after their relegation, started with a win – beating Lanercost by 88 runs.
BAE (formerly Vickers Sports) now play as Hawcoat Park and they started with a home win against Egremont by 71 runs.
Egremont, chasing 161, were bowled-out for 90 as Steve Hannaway (5-6) and Peter Wall (4-24) combined to do the damage. Stephen Boyde made 50 for Hawcoat Park.
Top scorers in the division were Appleby Eden who rattled-up 221-5 against Cleator Seconds.
Michael Bailey (97) and Mark Ousby (57) were among the runs for the home side but they couldn’t go through to a win.
Cleator replied with a solid 179-7 as Steven Wishart top-scored with 72 and the west Cumbrians took home nine points from the draw.
Keswick Seconds batted as poorly as their first team and were bowled-out for 89 at home to Kirkby after the visitors hadonly posted an average 150-8.
Vickerstown were the day’s other winners as they beat relegated Lindal Moor by six wickets.
In Division Two, Whitehaven Seconds entertained Windscale and were on the wrong end of a disappointing result.
Windscale scored 188-6, with Peter Lancaster carrying his bat for a fine 94 not out, and he was well supported by Andrew Todhunter’s 39. Sean Flannaghan was the most successful bowler, claiming three for 34.
Whitehaven’s response never really got going. Gordon Miller (18) and son Stephen (32) were the only ones to offer any resistance and ended on 90 all out.
The van Mourik brothers bowled well for Windscale, with Tom claiming three for 24 and Mikey two for one. Steve Miller was the mainstay of Whitehaven’s innings with a strong 32.
Seascale began the defence of the Division Two title with a hard fought victory over last year’s rivals Millom Seconds.
Batting first, Millom scored an impressive 224 all out, thanks mainly to some big hitting from Richard Ivison (67), while the pick of the Seascale bowlers was Steve Brown Jnr, taking three for 50 from his 15 overs.
In reply, Dave Stubbings (74) and Daniel Lee (56) got Seascale off to a great start before Mark Farries (28 not out) saw them home on 225/5 to claim the 18 points.
Premier Division – Cockermouth v Millom, Duddon SC v Penrith, Furness v Cleator, Keswick v Carlisle, Whitehaven v Dalton, Workington v Haverigg. Division One – Cleator II v Vickerstown, Egremont v Wigton, Kirkby v Workington, Lanercost v Appleby Eden, Lindal Moor v Keswick II, Ulverston v BAE (Barrow) SC.
