IT WAS a superb day of batting in the North Lancashire derby between Arnside and Silverdale as both sides posted high scores. Arnside must have thought they were on course for their first victory of the season when they set an imposing target of 217-8 to beat, Richardson posting 60, Davidson 59 and Shepherd 50.

But Dodds was in scintillating form for Silverdale, racking up an unbeaten 115 for the best batting performance of the division at the weekend. Silverdale got off to a terrible start, with Mason and Collis out early, but Dodds kept his cool and he provided a massive contribution as Silverdale reached their target with seven wickets and nine overs to spare. Significant totals were also made by Fletcher (36) and Hargreaves (49 not out).

Sedgwick’s early season troubles continued as they were bowled out for 53 against a Burneside team looking to bounce back after last week’s reverse at Milnthorpe.

Sedgwick openers Bracken and Portman looked comfortable putting on 23 for the first wicket, but a change of ends for Dixon and Oates created the breakthrough as Portman was caught behind off Dixon and then Bracken was adjudged LBW to the same bowler.

Oates got in on the act, trapping Broad LBW for one, and then it was one way traffic as Sedgwick’s middle order collapsed, Chris Dixon with 6-20 off 14 overs. Sedgwick were 53 all out in 30.4 overs.

In reply there were a couple of alarms as Burneside lost three cheap wickets but Davies (18 not out) played the watchful innings as Shepherd (13no) came in at five to finish the game in a quick fashion. For Sedgwick Portman got 2-11 off five overs.

Westgate failed to claim maximum points for the first time this season when rain affected their game at Heysham, but they remain six points clear at the top of the table.

It meant that Warton could have gone top by beating Shireshead, but in a nail-biting finish Shireshead triumphed with just two balls to spare.

Phil Bovis recorded a superb 111 not out in the first innings for Warton despite the bowling-friendly conditions as they posted 171-7 off their 45 allotted overs.

Shireshead’s reply started in perilous fashion as they were left at 44-3, but Uzair Shah (48) and Phil Oliver (26) added 47 in 10 overs to restore the run chase.

Shah and Jack (31) advanced the score to 132 until Shah was dismissed two short of a well-deserved half century.

Jack maturely manoeuvred Shireshead to 169-7, just three short of victory with 12 balls remaining. But two wickets in three balls had the alarm bells ringing.

Two runs were needed from the final over with the last pair at the crease and Carter crashed a boundary through the off-side to complete a one-wicket victory.

Milnthorpe beat Bare comfortably after skittling them out for 99, securing an easy eight-wicket victory against the promoted side.

The game between Bolton-le-Sands and Ambleside also succumbed to the rain, both sides claiming six points each.

Meanwhile Arnside’s poor early-season form continued in the Westmorland League Cup as they lost to Ambleside. They could only reach 106-9 in reply to Ambleside’s 125-5.

Milnthorpe beat Heysham by 53 runs on Tuesday night in the Cup to advance to the next round.