HERE are the latest results from the Westmorland Cricket League this week.

After two defeats in four days, the Carnforth cognoscenti were starting to speculate about the wheels coming off. They needn’t.

A thumping 189 run win against Burneside retains their 39-point lead and it would be a surprise if it wasn’t all sewn up by the middle of August.

As ever it was the left-handed opening duo Ryan Nelson (58) and Chris Parry (87) who set them up with an opening stand of 160 and Brad Hoyle was able to declare after 40 overs.

242/5 was a daunting target and Darren Nelson (5/24) and Tom Parkinson (4/28) were simply too good on the day.

Only Stephen Cooper (10) made double figures. Parkinson has now taken 33 league wickets at 10.06 this season whilst Parry (615) and Nelson (611) top the run scoring charts. Andrew Butler (79) inspired Bare to achieve one of the surprise wins of the season against Arnside.

Finding good support from John Hughes (33) the opener helped Bare to 170, Fin Corduke taking a debut 3/38. Edward Hart (31) kept Arnside in the hunt, but regular wickets from James Ferguson (4/43) and Mat Cook (3/32) gave the bottom side a 26-win victory.

Warton arrested their recent slump with a 135-run victory over Sedgwick with fifties from Tom Barnfield and Alex Batson helping them to 246/9.

For the second week in a row, Silverdale held off defeat when the opposition needed 2 runs from 2 balls. Last week they tied against Bare and collected 8 points.

This week Mike Wills missed the penultimate ball and was bowled by Steve Beck from the last delivery meaning a winning draw. Silverdale collected one less point than last week.

The rules of cricket can be esoteric. It was a shame for Wills (76) who with James Parkinson (36 not out) had hauled Milnthorpe back into a game they had looked like losing.

Silverdale had made 177/6 thanks to Rob Letcher (48), Jon Mason (36) and Phil Mason (36). At 46/6, Heysham were in big trouble at home to Westgate as Sam Conroy (4/36) and Zak Buchanan (4/31) wreaked havoc. Sam Calverley was still there and the classy left-handed counter attacked hitting 71 not out from 55 balls with 4 fours and 7 sixes.

Heysham’s 136 proved more than adequate as Jamie Cassidy (4/33) and Calverley (4/43) bowling spin met little resistance from Westgate’s batsman as they were all out for 84. Steven Foy (35), Jack Dodd (38) and a cameo 28 not out by Paul Coulton meant Shireshead totalled 215/9 against fellow Hackney and Leigh’s finalists Trimpell.

Dave Jack (5/23) cut a swathe through the batting ranks as only Mayank Virmani (30) made double figures in their 71 all out.

Shireshead beat Carnforth by 19 runs on Tuesday to reach the cup final inflicting Carnfoth’s first defeat since 2016 in the competition.

Shireshead were in trouble at 48/3 but a well-crafted innings by Jack Cunnington (36), wristy stroke making from Foy (33) and a powerful 29 from 13 balls by captain Ste Yates took them to a competitive 148/8.

At 39/0 from four, Yates who had made the genius decision to promote Cunnington from the lower order, now brought the off spinner into the attack.

Bowling to the short straight boundary against Nelson (31) and Parry (42) is a daunting task, but Cunnington produced a masterful spell taking 1/13 from 4 overs. With pressure building, Phil Oliver (2/28) bowled Parry to break the opening stand of 65.

Although Nelson was still there, he could only observe as there was a fearful clatter of wickets at the other end, with Josh Smethurst (4/14) using his height to good advantage and Joe Cunliffe (2/15) enjoying their evening. Last man, Alex Benson (21 not out) hit out to reduce the margin of defeat, but it is Shireshead and Trimpell who will meet at 2pm at Cartmel on 8th August. Parking for spectators will be at the main grandstand.

With no game for Kirkby Lonsdale, it was a chance for both Shireshead and Westgate seconds to catch up. Westgate put pressure on with a veteran inspired win against Holme.

Opener Dave Hannigan (40) was the ninth man out with the score on 104, but last pair Ryan McMenanim (9 not out) and Peter Wilson (38 not out) added an unbroken 51 for the last wicket. Lee Barnes took 4/21 for Holme and Carl Weiss 3/30.

Barnes (30) and Richard Herron (33 not out) put Holme in control, but from 134/6 they slumped to145 all out, that man Wilson taking 3/18. Paul Salmon (52) put Netherfield thirds in a strong position against Shireshead, but they then collapsed to an amazing spell of 6/13 by Gareth Bleasdale.

Not only was it a career best, but they were also the first wickets that he had taken since 2019. Netherfield’s 171 was passed for the loss of 5 wickets with Paul Yates (48), Simon Gould (67) and Luke Bray (31 not out) all in the runs.

Cartmel beat Carnforth seconds by one wicket as Stuart Bailey (28 not out) and Joe Atkinson (5 not out) held their nerve after it seemed the efforts of left handers Bob Davies (36) and Kevin Williams (42) were to be wasted as Luke Thompson took 3/35 and Graham Wilson 4/36.

Wilson had earlier made 41 in Carnforth’s 160, Davies taking 4/31. Robert Warne (72) helped Coniston to 226 against Windermere, Will Aspinwall taking 4/49. Sam Fletcher (82) played a lone hand after he lost his opening partner Sam Harrison (29) as Mark Fryer (4/31) helped Coniston to a 62-run win that keeps them in touching distance of the promotion places.

The League Management Committee has decided that all matches played against Sedbergh School third eleven will be ruled null and void which will mean a recalculation of the table.

In the British Rose Cricket Trophy, Kirkby Lonsdale beat Cartmel in the first playoff match to determine the final place in next Sunday’s semifinals which will be played at Holme CC next Sunday from 11am. Holme will play the best runner up in the first game and Shireshead seconds play Coniston in the second semifinal.

Division 3

In Division 3, debutant Will Lingard made 54 for Arnside seconds, but Mark Bradley (4/12) and Charlie Riseborough (4/24) bowled them out for 106.

Carnforth thirds were in desperate difficulties at 41/7, with Lee Pidgeon taking a season’s best 6/25, but Jamie Woodend (39) kept them in the game and the scores were level when Corey Fairgrieves (7) tried to score the winning runs and was stumped by James Dickinson from the bowling of Kieran Fallows (2/20).

Geoff Carter scored 107 for Heysham seconds. Harry Wallbank (48) also contributed to their 232/4, but a stubborn 42 from John Carter enabled Bolton le Sands to survive on 133/8 despite a career best 6/33 from promising off spinner Oliver Toulmin. Morecambe thirds last pair held out for a draw against Ambleside.

Division 4

In Division 4, Netherfield fourths beat Coniston 2nds by 4 wickets and Kirkby Lonsdale seconds beat Ingleton seconds by 95 runs. Mike Dugdale (77) and Matthew Yarker (46 not out) aided leaders Kendal thirds to score 207/7.

Liam Burrow (58) and Gareth Westworth (40) put Bare seconds in a strong position, but Alec Carradus (4/27) and Ryan Nightingale (3/31) presided as the last 7 wickets fell for 45 leaving Bare 41 short and John Sherman stranded on 30 not out.

David Sloan (48) and Alex Bantelnman (31) got Shireshead thirds to 176/8. Simon Murphy, Andy Harmer and Jonny Cormack all made 38, but it was the experienced Keith Singleton who had earlier bowled ten overs for 1/11 who struck 19 not out to complete a four wicket win with 7 balls to spare.

Morecambe fourths were indebted to Dineshmanickam Annadurarai (44) as they scored 123. Matthew Bailey took 4/18 for Sedgwick thirds who were all out for 62, with extras (16) the highest scorer, Joel Creech taking 3/0.

In an exciting game, Burneside seconds beat Westgate seconds by 2 runs. Giles Holden (47 not out) top scored for Burneside as Dave Edward’s took 3/22.

Their 140 didn’t seem enough at tea, but Barney Coxon (3/24) and Mike Allen (3/27) took wickets regularly. Arjun Manjare (34) and Sunil Naikawadi (27) batted well, but it was Peter Wilson (24 not out) who got them close and was watching helplessly at the other end as Holden took a catch from Allen’s bowling to complete the narrow win.