A DECISIVE win over Silverdale saw a dominant Carnforth clinch the Division One Trophy in style on Saturday.
And it was their batting powerhouses Ryan Nelson and Chris Parry who laid the foundations for the victory.
Nelson made 100 not out, his second ton of the season, and Parry 71 as the opening duo passed 1,500 runs for the season, then Adam Hornby added to Silverdale’s misery with 40 not out before Brad Hoyle called his men in with the scoreboard showing 229/2.
Jon Mason (21) and Phil Mason (26) led the resistance beyond the 40th over, but a perfect yorker from Archie Rich (5/21) sealed the victory as Silverdale were bowled out for 109.
Westgate’s challenge evaporated at Shireshead in an amazing game.
The visitors were bowled out for 39 with their nemesis David Jack taking 6/12 and passing the 50 wicket mark for the season.
But Shireshead then collapsed to 18/7 thanks to to Sam Conroy (3/18) and Zak Buchanan (4/19) before Jack Dodd hit three fours including a powerful slog sweep off Buchanan then Phil Oliver to hit the winning boundary, determined opener Joe Cunliffe overseeing the win with 10 not out from 89 balls.
Trimpell pulled off a relegation escape act with a dramatic home win over Milnthorpe.
James Parkinson (4/56) passed the 50 wicket milestone and there was 3/6 for Bob Baldwin as the home side, bottom for most of the season, were all out for 93.
And Milnthorpe were cruising at 77/3 with Phil Bovis making 30, but Mo Patel’s run out of Mike Wills (16) was the catalyst for an astonishing collapse.
They went from 88/5 to 92 all out when Bland ran out Luke Baldwin, with Peter McDermid the chief destroyer with 3/7 as Trimpell triumphed by one run.
Holme now go into the final round of games needing to beat Silverdale after they lost heavily at Sedgwick.
Aaron Lomas (68 not out) carried his bat, making his highest score for Sedgwick as they made 146/6, Lee Barnes taking 5 wickets.
And Holme had no answer to Jonny Matthews (6/16) and Richard Hanson (4/14) as they were dismissed for just 35.
Arnside are only two points behind Westgate after beating Burneside by 94 runs despite a career best seven wickets for spinner Matt Hartley.
Carnforth 2nd XI, already crowned Division Two champions, lost by 79 runs at Westgate.
The hosts were all out for 145 with stand-in captain David Hughes top scoring with 62, then Rob Shillitoe (3/31) and Danny Wilkinson (4/7) were in the wickets as Carnforth’s innings subsided for 66.
Archit Bhadwaj top scored with 32 in second placed Bare’s 149/9 against Cartmel.
In reply, Tony Hadwin carried his bat for 38, but the later order had no answer to Mat Cook (5/27) and Cartmel were all out for 88.
Mark Fryer took 5/14 and Bob Simpson made 60 not out as Coniston beat Netherfield 3rds by 6 wickets, while Penrith 2nds beat Kirkby Lonsdale by 5 wickets, Eddie Robson taking 4/23.
Windermere fluffed the chance to seal the Division Three title when Chris Myers (4/9) and Darren Barber (40 not out) helped Arnside 2nds to a surprise 7 wicket win.
Ingleton are 10 points behind after they beat Carnforth (Lindsay Thompson 44, James Thornton 33 not out), with Graham Kellett (55) passing 500 runs for the season as Ingleton breezed past the 139 target.
Morecambe 3rds beat Holme 2nds by 49 runs, Mike Driscoll making 66 not out for Morecambe and Jonny Varden replying with 62 for Holme.
Galgate and Netherfield 4ths played each other twice over the weekend, each side winning once with Eddie Glover (48) and Chris Beales (40) in the runs on Sunday.
Sedgwick 2nds beat Leven Valley by 5 wickets and Joe Taylor’s 52 was the platform for Silverdale 2nds to beat Bolton-le-Sands by 83 runs, a result which gives them a chance of avoiding relegation.
Low scores were the order of the day in Division 4.
Shireshead 3rds were skittled for 13 by Ambleside, Adam Wood taking 5/2 as the champions won by 7 wickets.
Bare 2nds made 198/7, Huw Lunt making 66, then Lauren Burgess took 4/5 as Kirkby Lonsdale 2nds were all out for just 12.
Owen Dryden starred with 6/8 as Ingleton 2nds beat Trimpell 2nds by 57 runs, while Simon Murphy made 46 of Milnthorpe 2nds 75 before Andy Cormack (7/14) bowled Kendal 3rds out for 58.
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