IT was Windermere's weekend in the Westmorland Cricket League after they won a low scoring game at Westgate.

The hosts batted first but were skittled out for 87 with Jim Crawford's excellent spell bowling reaping rewards as he finished with figures of 6-9.

A Pearce (26) and A Briggs (23) top scored for Westgate.

In reply, Windermere made a good start and were 35-0 but lost a flurry of wickets before finishing on 90-6 to seal victory.

A Nessbit (5-24) was the pick of the Westgate bowlers.

With nine games remaining, Shireshead grip on the league title strengthen after picking up a maximum 15 points win at Silverdale while closest rivals Warton had to settle for 12 points at Burneside.

Batting first, Shireshead started strong with Tom Jacques (24) smacking a six and four boundaries, but when he fell the Silverdale bowlers exploited the variable bounce in the wicket to ensure Shireshead had to work hard laying foundations. Paul Yates (62) and Phil Bovis (25) added 86 for the second wicket as Shireshead passed the 100 mark in the 25th over, and Yates increased the tempo of the innings with a flurry of boundaries before he fell caught and bowled to Sam Letcher (2-28).

Bovis fell to another good catch from Letcher but Danny Wilkinson (21), Nick Rafferty and Phil Oliver (21 not out) ensured the momentum was not lost and allowed Yates to declare on 195-8 from 43 overs.

Shireshead bowlers exploited the conditions and Peter Wilson (4-23), Tom Jacques (3-10) and Phil Oliver (2-15) helped bowl out their hosts for 95 - J Collis (25), Steven Creed (30) and J Greenall (30) all among the runs.

Warton went to Burneside and bowled out their home team for 136 before Ryan Nelson scored an unbeaten 78 as they reached their target for the loss of just two wickets.

A Pennington scored a superb 107 as Milnthorpe beat Heysham.

Batting first, Heysham were dismissed for 220 - G Cassidy top scoring with 58 - which Milnthorpe reached for the loss of six wickets.

Bottom of the table Bare suffered another defeat, this time against fellow strugglers Ambleside.

Batting first, Bare were bowled out for109. Ambleside, in reply, rattled off their target without loss, O Wileman top scoring with an unbeaten 56.

And Arnside enjoyed a maximum points win over Sedgwick to move up to fifth place in the table.

A Lee (50) and L Illingworth (54) were among the runs as Arnside reached 269-6 from their allotted overs then reduced Sedgwick to 130-9.

In Division Two, leaders Coniston beat Ingleton with ease, bowling out their visits for 69 then reached their target for the loss of two wickets.

But Shireshead cut the gap on the leaders to six points as they enjoyed a maximum points win over Trimpell thanks largely to the efforts of C Twiname (79) and M Sutcliffe (51) who were among the runs in their 207-4 total.

In reply, Trimpell were bowled out for 137.

Third-placed Carnforth remain in the hunt for honours as they too also picked up 15 points. Visting Heysham batted first and were bowled out for 100 which Carnforth knocked off without loss.

Struggling Holme enjoyed a welcome victory over Westgate. Third from bottom Holme were bowled out for 162 but then dismissed Westgate to pick up 15 points.

D Troughton took 5-27 and S Williams scored 86 as Kirkby Lonsdale (189 all out) won at BLS (142-8).

And fourth-placed Warton beat Burneside thanks largely to unbeaten knocks of 70 and 67 from P Burt and A Dixon respectively.

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