A THUNDERSTORM brought an end to Shireshead's chances of victory at Ambleside and allowed Warton to cut the gap at the top of Division One of the Westmorland Cricket League.

Just two top division fixtures survived Saturday's inclement weather as heavy rain, thunder and lightning rained down across the region.

A very wet outfield delayed the start of play at Ambleside and a match reduced to 30 overs per side began 105 minutes late after the umpires had agreed to a shortening of the boundary on the northern side where the surface water persisted.

This provided the potential for a high scoring game but Shireshead’s opening bowlers Dave Jack and Izhar Ullah did well to keep the rate down to just three per over.

After an opening partnership of 36 by Daniel Douglas and Oliver Wileman was broken by Tom Jacques (4-52), wickets fell steadily before Paul Johnson arrived at the crease determined to take full advantage of the shortened boundary, swiftly hitting four sixes and three fours in his 50 not out.

Ambleside’s total of 134-7 looked challenging, but with help from Colin Twiname (17), Jacques (25) and Simon Gould (27), and with some accomplished batsmen remaining, Shireshead were ahead of the required rate at 76-3 when a thunderstorm crept over the mountains to end the proceedings.

That result gave second-place Warton the chance to exert pressure on the league leaders - and they did so with ease at Sedgwick to pick up a valuable 12 points and close the gap to just six points.

Warton ripped into the Sedgwick top order with Ryan Needham continuing his impressive form.

He bowled a marathon 15 over spell and with no Graeme Crowther he did a great job taking three wickets.

Steven Beck then took four wickets without being at his best and Ryan Nelson took the remaining three scalps to bowl out Sedgwick in the 44th over.

In reply Sedgwick bowled well and also took early wickets and at 30-3 the game was evenly balanced in the gathering gloom.

It was the partnership between Tom Barnfield and Nelson which steadied the ship and took Warton into the 70s before Sedgwick hit back with more wickets.

This brought Shaun Partridge to the crease and his cameo, which included three boundaries, was a crucial one as Warton passed 100.

When both Partridge and Ricky Nelson departed it was left to captain Gareth Finney to guide his team home with four wickets to spare.