MASTER wicket-taker Bob Baldwin grabbed a mid-innings hat-trick and recorded a magnificent 7-15 to rescue Milnthorpe from the possibility of humiliating defeat by lowly Ibis.

Batting first, Milnthorpe lost Chris Baldwin in the second over and found themselves in trouble as wickets fell regularly to leave them on 43-9.

A final score of 65 was reached thanks to a last- wicket partnership between Andy Pennington (10) and Bob Baldwin(12).

For Ibis Dave Johnston (5-25) and John Swindlehurst (4-20) bowled tremendously to present their side with a wonderful opportunity to beat the reigning champions.

Bob Baldwin had other ideas, however, as his late swing bowling caused lots of problems.

In his ninth over a hat-trick dismissed the Ibis nos 3, 4 and 5 batsman with the score on 15.

A defiant knock by Ken Coulston (12) and 14-year-old Steve Robinson (13) put the game back in the melting pot, but Baldwin had the last say as, aided by four lbw decisions, Ibis were all out for 48.

Another damp Queens Park track meant Windermere skipper Jo Stephenson was pleased to invite visitors Sedgwick to bat first.

Generally they found it hard going against the pace of Jonathan Cooper, Matt Hartnett and Nick Lewthwaite, all except opener Mike Bracken, who batted with enterprise and freedom to score an excellent 53.

Otherwise only skipper Jason Dalzell (22) made much headway.

Hartnett bowled through-out the innings to take 7-39, but a crucial moment was the run out of Bracken, undone by a direct hit from Stephenson.

In reply Windermere proceeded steadily to 30-1 before rain came to halt play. It seemed like another wash out and some Sedgwick players were changed for the journey home before the umpires decided the match could resume for a final 17 overs. The challenge was taken up by Andrew Wright (36) and Nick Lewthwaite (37) and the total was reached with two overs and five wickets to spare.

Afterwards Stephenson gave credit to the Sedgwick team for their attitude in playing on in what was for them, because of the rain, a more or less hopeless position.

Burneside opener Rob Davies hit an unbeaten 108, his first century of the campaign, to put his side in the driving seat, but Bare just hung on to deny them victory when the last pair survived.

Davies hit two sixes and seven fours in his 108 and put on 96 for the first wicket in 31 overs with Mike Curran, who made 45. Burneside then accelerated impressively, adding 70 for the last 10 overs. Dave Batty was the only other scorer of note with 17.

Early wickets did not materialise for Burneside when Bare batted. But evergreen medium-pacer Alan McKnight took 5-22 off 17 overs as they were reduced from 64-3 to 108-6.

Burneside had 13 balls to try and get the last wicket, but Bare survived at 114-9, taking one point to their opponents' seven.

Shireshead consolidated their mid-table position, extending their unbeaten league runto seven matches, with a 143-run victory over Silverdale.

Batting first, Colin Twiname was in the runs again, making 51 from 98 balls, receiving good support from Ben Hornby (22) and Nigel Cunliffe. Paul Yates (22), Mike Park (21) and Phil Oliver with an fortunate 36 not out from 29 balls, scored 77 from the last 10 overs. Phil Mason took 4-64.

Silverdale struggled from the start and Oliver took the first five wickets with only Johnny Mason putting up prolonged resistance. The Shireshead paceman has already taken 26 league wickets this season at less than 14 apiece. With 13 cheap cup wickets as well, it has been a remarkable performance from the leader of the attack, who recorded the second best figures of his career in the league, finishing with 7-26 as Silverdale were all out for 52.

Warton again failed to capitalise on a massive score compiled by their batsmen as they could only draw with Arnside.

R. Nelson led the way with 81 in Warton's 239 all out made batting first.

But Arnside had A. Bullough on 54 not out at the close as they shared the points on 170 for 3.

Westgate retained their five-point lead in the First Division with a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Heysham. Bowler D. Wilkinson recorded 6-40 as Heysham were all out for 117.

Westgate eased their way to a winiing 118-2 with Neil Parkinson making 57 not out.

Kirkby Lonsdale, 10 points clear in Division Two and with a game in hand, consolidated their position with a four-wicket win over Trimpell.

Trimpell lost the toss and were soon in trouble with Colin Johnson (5-9) ripping out the top order to leave the visitors on 25-7 from 20 overs. With support from D. Troughton (2-11) and P. Pease (2-4) Trimpell were all out for 53.

The Kirkby reply started disastrously with both openers falling when there were just eight runs on the board. A needless run out and a controversial lbw left Kirkby on 13-4.

Then when in-form Tom Blanchard was out for 15, they were then struggling on 27-5.

A determined rearguard action by Eddie Mills (15no) pulled Kirkby through. Although S. Storey fell for nine Kirkby reached the necessary 54-6.

Ambleside A openerDenis Batey scored a maiden century in the drawn game with Bare A in Division Four. Ambleside made 216 for 4 declared thanks to 112 not out from Batey who shared an opening stand of 126 with Peter Dodd, (56). Rain in the tea interval shortened the Bare reply and they finished on 79 for 4.

Warton edged into the final of the Oversands Travel Trophy with a three-wicket victory over Shireshead.

Colin Twiname (33) and Eugene Diatloff (32) gave Shireshead a positive start. Then the innings lost momentum. despite the efforts of Mike Park who made 36 not out and the innings closed on 167-9.

In reply Warton's Adrian Ideson leading from the front to make 76 from 77 balls. He received support from Paul Weatherill (31) in an opening stand of 95. Oliver then took three wickets for five runs.

Park, bowling for the first time since surgery in early June, took 3-19 and David Carter 2-37.

Shane Dixon kept his nerve, however to guide home the hosts on 168-7.