Victory over Seascale sets up winner takes all clash at Lindal next week

Carlisle Firsts completed a comfortable win over Seascale to maintain top spot in North Lancs Division One and take the title race to the penultimate day of the season at Lindal next week.

Batting first, openers Ben Davidson (44) and James Lythgoe (29) combined to set the stage for the middle order to take the game beyond the visitors before a wobble saw the home side lose six wickets for little more than 20-runs.

Alex Raybould and Alex Calmy, counter-attacking with some panache, restored some kind of order before late runs from birthday boy Chris Blythe and wicket keeper Andrew Trickett saw the innings close on 213.

In response, the visitors struggled to inject any kind of momentum, with only Jack Stubbings (27) at the top of the order offering any real resistance.

Three wickets apiece for spinner Tom Carlyle and 16-year-old seamer Ru Barker wrapped up the game for the home side who must now win at Lindal next week to secure a return to the North Lancs top flight.

Carlisle lead by 5-points, a lead that will become unassailable with victory at the team that has jostled with them at the top of the league since the early days of the campaign.

Skipper Marc Brown is hoping for a full turnout at training this week as players press their case for inclusion and harpoon their skills ahead of the most important game of the year.

Talk on the steps of the pavilion meanwhile was all about finding a bus to take supporters to south Cumbria next week.

Come on Carlisle!

Carlisle Cricket Club v Seascale Cricket Club at Edenside , Carlisle .
Carlisle’s Alex Calmy in action
SATURDAY 27th AUGUST 2016.