Burneside A take maximum points on opening day of cricket season (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Burneside A take maximum points on opening day of cricket season

11:31am Monday 25th April 2011 in Westmorland League By Patrick O'Kane, Senior News/Sport Reporter

PROMOTED sides Burneside A and Cartmel had mixed fortunes in division two as the Westmorland Cricket League got under way on Saturday.

Burneside A took 15 points at home to Bare while Cartmel had to settle for a solitary point in a losing draw at home to relegated Trimpell.

After missing out on the league title by just three points last season Westgate A started with 15 points at home to Coniston, while there were also 15 point victories for Warton A and Shireshead A.

* Burneside A 128, Bare 104

AN all-round performance from Ben Leacock set Burneside A off on the front foot on the opening day of the season.

Having been put in to bat by Bare, Shepherd (33) and Brennan (28) put on a solid 51 for the first wicket, before Leacock came to the crease and added a top scoring 42 But Steve Bransby thwarted the Burneside attack with 4-17, while Mick Lockwood took 4-35 as the hosts were all out for 128 within 31 overs.

Burneside’s bowlers made the most of the damp wicket though and restricted their visitors to 14-5 before Bare were all out for 104.

John Sharman (35) and Mat Cook (23) reminded the top order how to score runs but Leacock starred with the ball, taking 4-23 and was ably supported by Paul Bigland on 4-27, as Burneside claimed 15 points.

Trimpell 247-3, * Cartmel 145-7

After losing every toss in division three last season, Cartmel had the ball in their favour as they put Trimpell into bat, but it wasn’t long before the visiting batsmen hit their stride.

Having been held back to just 30-1 from the opening 10 overs, Trimpell, who dropped down from division one, knocked balls around the pitch to make 126-2 at the halfway point before reaching 247-3 in their 45 overs.

S Mayer knocked 52 off 25 balls, including five fours and four sixes, with S Pemberton contributing an unbeaten 73 with the bat. M Storey hit a top scoring 76 not out.

Cartmel slipped to 85-5 at the halfway point of their innings in reply with Andrew MacFarland putting on 28. Kevin Williams led the charge with 38 as Cartmel batted steadily, but they were reduced to 145-7 and took a solitary point in a losing draw.