Carlisle Firsts and Millom end all square at Edenside.

Carlisle Firsts retained top spot in North Lancs Division One after an extraordinary encounter with bogey side Millom ended in a nerve-shredding tie.

Carlisle were indebted to Ben Davidson for his second consecutive century at home, succumbing only in the final stages for 104 as the home side compiled 228-9.

Skipper Marc Brown kept him company with another half century, while Paul Glascott added 26 valuable middle order runs to set the visitors a testing victory target.

Oddly, Millom have only five victories to their name this season, two of them over Carlisle, and seven defeats. It’s a puzzling record for such a talented side.

But they clearly enjoy their encounters with Carlisle and looked to have got to grips with the run chase when the excellent Graham Dawson launched a brutal but brilliant counter attack.

His 91 included some quite incredible hitting and got his side within touching distance before the returning Chris Blythe trapped him leg before.

Alex Calmy further derailed Millom’s momentum with two quick wickets, but the home side had only six to defend from Blythe’s final over.

With breaths being held on the boundary edge, the young left armer bowled a fantastic over to leave Millom needing two from the final ball.

The visitors tried to scamper two, but Glascott held his nerve to secure the final ball run out that left the game tied with both teams having made 228-9.

Lindal’s win over Ulverston keeps them on Carlisle’s tails, but it may be that the title is decided on the penultimate weekend of the season when the two teams meet in south Cumbria.

What a day, what a game, and what a season this is.