MILNTHORPE got their season off to a cracking start with a four-wicket victory at Shireshead in the Wesmorland Cricket League curtain-raiser.

Having chosen to bat first, the home side’s progress was slow on a sticky early-season wicket. The introduction of Tom Jacques (25) quickened the run rate and they were 77-2. But the introduction of J Naylor (4/30) precipitated a collapse which saw Shireshead falter to 84-6 just four overs later.

The removal of C Baldwin early on gave Shireshead hope that they could defend the victory target of 143. But a very solid 47 from Mike Wills changed the course of the game.

Wills punished Shireshead for an earlier dropped catch at slip with eight boundaries. The dismissal of A Pennington on 28 and Wills put the game back in the balance, but L Illingworth closed the innings out with a mature 35 not out as Milnthorpe finished on 146-6.

In what looked a great tie on paper between sides that finished second and third in the Westmorland League last season, Arnside were skittled out for 68 after Westgate totted up 183-7.

Having won the toss, Westgate got off to an excellent start, reaching 80-2 in the 18th over. The ever reliable Peter Wilson and the returning Steve Creed (16), looked comfortable adding 59 for the third wicket and Wilson went on to score 63 runs from 78 balls, before he and Creed fell victim to the crafty Adrian Lee (2-35), both bowled. With Westgate poised at 99-4 Arnside were back in the game, but Dave Hannigan’s 48 gave Westgate an imposing total.

In response Lee (24) was the stand-out performer for Arnside, but a lack of support from the other end saw Arnside’s hopes disappear within the first 10 overs. The catalyst for this was Danny Wilkinson (5-26), who removed all the Arnside danger men cheaply, and Westgate claimed maximum points.

Burneside will also be pleased with their start, defeating Bolton-le-Sands for a seven-wicket triumph. Sands won the toss and batted first, but Burneside soon struck with Leacock bowling Ibbetson in the third over for one. Sands rallied with a partnership of 30 for the second wicket, but Burneside’s bowlers were too good as Leacock claimed 4-25, Airey got 3-12 and Oates notched up 2-26 to bowl the visitors out for 70 inside 35 overs.

In reply Burneside made easy work of the target, losing three wickets in 18 overs. Wilson (13) and Oates (24 not) capped off a fine game to ensure the home side victory.

The bowling from champions Warton proved too hot for Bare to handle in their first game of the season, with the promotees all-out for 45. Their middle order collapsed dramatically from 23-2 to 29-7, with impressive bowling figures from Crowther (3/2), Brown (3/12), Ideson (3/16), and Finney (1/9). Before that, an opening partnership of 52 from Phil Bovis and Barrow was enough to put the champions on the right track, Bovis going on to make 63 before Bransby trapped him LBW. Warton finished 152-7.

Meanwhile Ambleside won their first game of their new season, having been promoted as champions last year, beating Sedgwick by four wickets. The new boys were posted a target of 67 from Sedgwick’s first innings, which Ambleside wilfully responded to. Sedgwick’s S Willacy claimed figures of 6/35.

Silverdale claimed maximum points as their 140 all out proved too high a total for Heysham, with L Thompson knocking 55, although seven of those wickets was claimed by G Cassidy, who conceded just 25 runs. Heysham could only post 81 in reply. P Moffat was 6/29.