THE Westmorland Cricket League has seen their latest series of matches played under some scorching sun.

Burneside won the Hackney & Leigh Final at a sun-drenched Netherfield Cricket Ground in front a bumper finals day crowd.

Opting to bat first, Burneside lost early wickets against Dylan Conroy and Zak Buchanan and were indebted to their captain who chose the big stage to make a career best 57 including four towering 6s.

His efforts took Burneside to 131/9 a total that still appeared to be under par. After the early loss of Jack Huntingdon, Craig Buchanan (38) and Sam Frith (20) were in control until Frith was well stumped by Dan Greenwood off the bowling of Ethan Ellwood.

Leacock (3/8) then bowled an impressive spell which meant that Westgate were behind the rate.

Buchanan batted well, but never found the big over needed to ease the scoreboard pressure and when he was bowled by Curtis Nicholson the rate had reached 12 an over.

Sam Conroy hit a big six but Westgate finished on 116/9. Ben Leacock was deservedly named man of the match. Mention should be given to Joe Bradshaw who’s diving one handed catch to remove Jack Thwaites would have graced cricket at any level of the game.

Earlier Westgate had restricted Shireshead to 101/9 with only Dave Jack (39) making a serious contribution. Jack Huntingdon (44 not out) and Sam Frith (42) made short shrift of the target as Westgate won by 8 wickets with 6 overs in hand. Burneside reached the final with a 27-run win over Sedgwick.

Batting first they made the highest score of the day, 152/9, thanks largely to 56 from Ethan Ellwood and 28 from number 10, Nathan Chambers. No one really got going for Sedgwick with Mike Bracken and Ali Howell joint top scorers on 19 and 33 extras meant the game was closer than it needed to have been.

On Saturday, Ben Phillips (72 from 83 balls) and Leacock (22 not out) rescued Burneside from 31/5 against league leaders, Heysham with Sam Calverley (5/35) ascendant. 135 appeared a challenge when Heysham were 24/3 but Lee Calverley and brother Sam (24) added 58, Lee making a composed 61 not out from 123 balls that guided Heysham to a 4-wicket win. Westgate remain second after beating Arnside by 5 wickets.

Arnside slipped to 20/6 against Dylan Conroy (3/20) and Zak Buchanan (5/35) and although Jim Crawford (26) hit out, 102 seemed well short of the requirement. At 6/3 Westgate were in trouble, but Andy Hill (27 not out), Sam Frith (41) and Jack Huntingdon (29 not out) secured the points.

Shireshead are the third team with realistic hopes of the Championship. An all-round batting performance with Adam Murphy (36) top scoring saw them post 193 against Kirkby Lonsdale for whom spinners, James Royce (3/45) and Andrew Metcalfe (3/34) kept the score in check. James Royce (29) and Mark Beaumont (39) took the reply to 77/3, but when they were parted the innings subsided to 129, Dave Jack taking 3/24 and a first team best from Jack Cunnington (5/48).

Bare beat Sedgwick by 4 wickets. Archit Bhadwaj (4/29) removed Aaron Lomas first ball and with Craig Albon (4/27) reduced the home side to 45/5. Chris Evans (51) led the recovery, but a target of 135 in 54 overs was made for Frank Smith (34) a batter whose blueprint is crease occupation. Frankball is the polar opposite of Bazball but can be mightily effective and with Josh Allison (54) making a maiden fifty they dodged 3 late wickets from Richard Hanson (3/23) to gain the points that take them to seventh in the table. Graeme Crowther (65) made his first fifty of the seasons, but the next highest score was Stuart Mayor’s 11 as Andy Cormack (4/25) led Milnthorpe’s attack to bowl them out for 110. Phil Bovis (59) aided by a runner and Steve Bowman (51 not out) completed the 9-wicket win.

Holme maintained their unbeaten record thanks to their scorer. Stuart Hunter didn’t find the 5 runs that gave them a nervy win against Silverdale. He answered the call to play only his fifth game since a nightmare thumb injury seemed to have ended his career in 2019. Steve Beck had produced a magnificent spell to bowl out Holme for 97, Ethan Burton at number 9 making a crucial 22 not out. Jon Mason (20) and Harry Mason (25) gave Silverdale a good start and Liam Teasdale tried five bowlers before he turned to Hunter who changed the game taking a remarkable 7/20 from 9 overs. Someone else may need to score next week. 22 points behind Holme are Shireshead 2nds who made a mammoth 281/9 at Carnforth with Simon Gould (79), Luke Bray (45 not out), Aiden Weir (41) and Liam Burns (36) making full use of the excellent surface. Tom Parkinson took 3/65. Glenn Russell (55) gave Carnforth a chance, but an excellent spell from Mike Mead (3/29) meant they had to settle for a draw on 162/7.

20 points behind Shireshead are Cartmel who failed to capitalise thanks to a brilliant all-round performance by Barny Wileman. Wileman made 55, but Paul Johnson (75 from 54 balls) powered Ambleside to 241/7, Joe Cowperthwaite taking 3/39. Wileman then reduced Cartmel to 34/6 before taking himself out of the attack. Sam Taylor (68) and Joe Atkinson (33) enjoyed the respite, but when Wileman returned he completed the dismissal of Cartmel for 159 and his figures were the barely credible 7.4 overs, 6 maidens, and seven wickets for the cost of 1 run.

Bob Simpson (72) and Mike Burton (44) took Coniston to 224/7 at Windermere, Jack Spilby taking 3/24. At 86/4 a win looked a distant possibility, but Sam Harrison (70) and Will Aspinwall (82 not out) added 107 for the fifth wicket and Aspinwall kept his nerve to give them a 2-wicket victory with 2 balls to spare.

Daniel Briggs-Calvert (38) and Chris Fleming (45 not out) allowed Ingleton to total 152/5, but a welcome return to form from Ian Whitehead (64 not out), with Matthew Bailey (32) gave Sedgwick a 6-wicket win. Westgate gained a winning draw at Netherfield 3rds.

In Division 3 there were wins for Kendal 3rds, Morecambe 3rds whilst Heysham 2nds with James Hesketh (53 not out) remain top of the Division Carnforth 3rds beat Leven Valley and Paul Thompson (110 not out) added 146 with Louis Armer (77 not out) in their winning draw against Silverdale.

49 not out from Dineshmanickam Annadurai gave Morecambe 4ths a win at Shireshead and takes them 11 points clear in Division 4. Westgate 3rds beat Coniston and Bare 2nds beat Netherfield 4ths with Lauren Burgess taking a career best 6/22.