CUMBRIA Girls U15 cricket team captained by Netherfield CC’s Sarah Earl won the North Area County Age Group U15 T20 Tournament played at Parkside Road last Wednesday and Thursday.

They beat Lancashire in the final by four wickets having lost their group game to them earlier.

Cumbria had beaten Northumberland by 85 runs and Durham by three wickets but lost by one run to Lancashire to finish second in the group stages.

In the final Cumbria lost the toss and Lancashire elected to bat, but superb bowling by Keswick’s Holly Cowper (2-11), Katie Robson from Workington (2-17) and Earl (2-16), ably backed up by very good ground fielding restricted Lancashire to 80-7 from their 20 overs.

In reply Cumbria reached 13 before the first wicket fell and another two quick dismissals followed, leaving Cumbria 19-3.

A fourth wicket stand of 48 between Earl (30) and Cowper (27 not out) took the score to 70 before another mini collapse with two run outs left Cumbria requiring eight from 2 overs.

But two boundaries from Ella Telford (Penrith) took Cumbria home to scenes of wild excitement from the home team and supporters.

The girls thoroughly deserved the win and the long treks all over the county in bad weather for indoor winter training paid off handsomely.

Ashleigh Curwen and Emily Dibble from Netherfield also played their part for Cumbria in the tournament, as did Ingleton’s Sophie Hughes.