Weather the winner despite efforts of Freddie Fallows

On the eve of the fixture Jesmond Cricket Ground was waterlogged, and grounds people worked exceptionally hard to get it dried out sufficiently for the match to start at 13.45pm.

Northumberland won the toss and elected to insert their opponents.

It didn’t take long at all to discover why! In the hands of Northumberland’s pacemen every ball moved laterally, and many moved vertically in an unpredictable fashion.

First ball fourth over Ben Walkden (Newton-le-Willows CC) holed out to George Darwood at mid-wicket off Matthew Scott.

This brought debutant Oliver Spedding (Carlisle CC) to join Reece Irving (Netherfield CC), playing his second county match.

The youngsters put on a creditable partnership of 46 before Irving (26 off 64) was caught by Harry Crawshaw, off Matthew Oswell.

Eight balls later Spedding was caught behind by John Oswell off Mitchell Killeen, who was making his Northumberland debut having played List A for Durham CCC last year.

Debutant Stan McAlindon (Carlisle-born, Tynemouth CC & Durham CCC) established a decent partnership of 33 with Sam Dutton (Kendal CC).

Dutton (22 off 23 balls) was clean bowled by Oswell.

Rain brought the first day to an end with the visitors on 108/4 in 36.0 overs.

On day two, McAlindon and skipper Matthew Sempill (Cockermouth CC) had built a partnership of 27 when the latter was caught second slip off the third ball of the third over of the day.

Next ball Nico Watt (Carlisle CC) fell to a fantastic catch by slip Ross Whitfield.

Oswell completed a trio of wickets in 4 balls when Sempill fell to a slip catch by Crawshaw.

The Sausages had slumped to a disappointing 114/7 off 39 overs.

Freddie Fallows (Kendal CC) began to gain momentum with three controlled fours off the 43rd over, a few more 4s and a couple of 6s to raise Cumbria to a more respectable 200/7 off 55 overs.

Then he teed off with four huge sixes which landed in the streets opposite.

Possibly to the relief of experienced spinner Jacques du Toit (Newcastle CC, ex Leicestershire and Cumberland CCC), Fallows scored only a two and a single to finish the over.

This neatly brought him to exactly 100 off 59 balls in 68 minutes (9 x 4, 7 x 6).

After another big six, Fallows was caught by Crawshaw at cover off Oswell to break his 119-run partnership with and Ed Moulton (Chorley CC).

Sam Sharp (Kendal CC) and National County Championship debutant Ali Craig (Penrith CC) fell to catches at second slip and mid-off respectively to leave Cumbria on 252 all out off 63.3 overs.

Oswell posted impressive figures of 20 overs, two maidens, 6-75.

In reply, Moulton made an early breakthrough bowling Bobby Green third ball of the innings.

First ball of the eighth over, second slip Walkden pouched an edge off Ben Robinson.

Sharp then got Whitfield lbw, and after lunch he added the scalp of Crawshaw, who was caught behind second ball after resumption.

Sharp and Walkden took four wickets each, while Moulton and McAlindon weighed in with one apiece as Northumberland 120 all out off 36.1 overs. Du Toit top scored with 35.

In the first eight overs of Cumbria’s second innings, split evenly before and after tea, Killeen bowled four maidens.

First ball of the ninth over he somewhat rearranged Walkden’s stumps. 11 for 1 off 8.1 overs soon became 15 for 3 off 10.5 overs when Spedding and McAlindon were out lbw to Oswell and Killeen respectively.

None of the next five Cumbrian batters were able to really dig in as they were reduced to 57/8 from 27.5 overs.

That brought Watt and Sharp together. Their 52-run partnership off 65 balls padded out Cumbria’s score to 109 off 38.5 overs.

That left the hosts with a target of 242 off a possible 110 overs on the third day.

But unremitting rain saw the match called off.

Cumbria’s next match is in the Durrant Cricket National County Championship starts on Sunday when they host Cambridgeshire at Kendal CC 11am start.