AFTER Saturday's deluge, interest in the Westmorland League focussed on the Sunday's Over Sands Travel Trophy matches.

Testing conditions for the opening round of the first division cup competition did not deter Milnthorpe's Chris Baldwin from continuing his impressive form with the bat.

So far Baldwin had almost totted up 300 runs and been out just twice and on this occasion he outshone Silverdale's in-form pair of Phil Bovis, the former Kent seconds man, and Jonnie Mason.

Winning an important toss, Milnthorpe stuck the visitors in on a damp pitch and the Silverdale top order never really came to terms with the difficult conditions.

Danger-man Bovis never looked happy and had made 10 when he played outside the line to be caught behind off Mike Halhead.

Silverdale found themselves in trouble at 32 for four and the home bowlers kept on top and despite a last-wicket stand of 19, Silverdale mustered just 102 from their 25 overs.

All-rounders Mike Halhead and Mike Wills finished with 2-12 and 2-14 respectively from their five eight-ball over spells.

Silverdale then failed to get the early wickets they required and opener Baldwin showed superb temperament and more than a bit of class to finish with a match-winning unbeaten 59 as he led his side to victory with almost nine overs to spare.

Milnthorpe's Brian Smith hit two fours and a six in the final over to secure a six-wicket win over BAE Systems SC in the Thwaites Cup, the senior county cup competition. Baldwin was in the runs again, hitting 71 out of their score of 149-4 after they were set to chase 143-7.

Back in Over Sands Trophy, Warton all-rounder Nick Jones posted a crucial 90 and his tricky off-spin also helped steer Warton to an eight-wicket win over Sedgwick in a high-scoring match.

Sedgwick set what looked a respectable target of 189-6 on a surprisingly hard, flat surface thanks to the dying winds.

After a cautious start, Simon Dalzell anchored the innings with a top-scoring 60 with good support from Simon Willacy (40) and R. Dixon (28 not out).

There were two wickets apiece for Denwood and Rafferty, but Jones proved to be the most economic of the bowlers, conceding only 20 runs, though without a victim.

Warton made a good start in reply and were always ahead of the scoring-rate until Crowther holed out on the boundary for 29.

Jones carried on with quality shots around the wicket, but was denied a second century in a fortnight when he was bowled trying to hit a low full toss on off stump.

Nelson (38 not out) and Cunliffe (25 not out) build on the solid foundations to see Warton home with more than two overs to spare.

Windermere's batting crumbled away badly against Bare's attack as Sinclair proved the pick of the bowlers with five for 13.

Asked to bat on a drying surface, openers Stephenson and West made a cautious start and skipper Stephenson was run out for six thanks to Sharman's direct throw from mid-off.

From 25-1 Windermere slumped to 36-5 with a combination of ill-judged strokes and good catches.

Sinclair came into the attack at first change and took three wickets in two overs and when West was out for 20, only Lewthwaite gave any resistance as Windermere were all out for a paltry 56. All of Bare's bowlers did well, Albon taking 3-26 and Bransby 1-4.

In reply, Bare sensibly played out the dangerous Lewthwaite's overs and reached 23 before losing Westworth for four.

Smith and Sharman shared a match-winning stand of 25 to take Bare within single figures of victory. Both were out soon afterwards but Sinclair and Smith, who carried his bat for 24, sealed victory with seven overs to spare.

Arnside's batsmen were in charge against Trimpell for a nine-wicket win. Hogg (77) and Lee (52) steered them to victory with an unbroken second-wicket stand as they reached 152-1 in reply to Trimpell's 148-8.

n The Cumbria and North Lancashire regional section of the Village Cricket Championship reaches the quarter-final stage this weekend.

Milnthorpe are due to meet Burneside, who reached the third-round with a 14-run victory over Kirkby-in-Furness. Burneside made 140-6 and restricted Kirkby to 126-9 in reply.

Meanwhile Sedgwick are away to Chipping on Sunday in a bid to win a semi-final date with the winner of the above tie.

Warton scored 204-9 then had Gosforth at 73-9 in the second round. This weekend they play Silverdale who beat Threlkeld by 36 runs.

May 23, 2003 11:00