CUMBRIA have a credible performance in their showcase feature against Lancashire.

A young Cumbrian cricket team battled against Lancashire in a showcase fixture at Sedbergh School.

Seven usual Cumbria CCC’s one-day team players were absent, including Captain Michael Slack who attended as a spectator with his broken toe protected by a ‘moon boot’. 

Cumbria’s stand-in Captain Matthew Sempill won the toss and was elected to field. With an average age 20.5 years, including five teenagers, Cumbria put on an admirable display of energetic, committed and effective fielding.

Only a couple of extremely hard-catching chances went begging. Matthew Siddall took 2-24 from five overs. Lancashire second’s Ben Walkden took 2-34 from his five. 17-year-old Spinner Josh Stirling and 18-year-old Regan Jackson took a wicket each.

Catches were taken by Sempill, Ben Davidson, J.J. Fielding and keeper Finlay Richardson. 

In the 15th and 17th overs, spectators were on retrieval duty when Danny Lamb and Josh Bohannon each put a massive 6 over first Walkden’s then Sempill’s heads uphill into the graveyard! 

With a target of 187 to win 18-yr-old Evan Williams and ‘old man of the team’ 25-yr-old Nathan Waterston put on an accomplished opening partnership of 43 off 10.2 overs. 

The top scorers for Cumbria were Fielding and Walkden. Occasional leg-spinner Luke Wells took 3 wickets. Defying the still-slippery surface Rob Jones, Liam Hurt and wicket-keeper George Lavelle admirably launched themselves to take challenging catches.

Cumbria finished on a respectable 142/5 off their 22 overs. Cumbria CCC are next in action at the semi-final of the One Day Trophy: Sunday, August 7 against Oxfordshire, Great Tew CC, 11am.

The other semi-final is Berkshire (who beat Cumbria in the finals in 2019 and 2021) vs Dorset. Cumbria’s last NCCA Eastern Division 2 match is: 14-16 August, Cumbria v Hertfordshire, Furness Cricket Club at 11am.