Double despair as Cheshire lose out to Cumbria

Game 1: Cumbria 163-5 (20 overs), Cheshire 91 (16.4 overs). Cumbria won by 72 runs Scorecard Video highlights

Game 2: Cumbria 182-6 (20 overs), Cheshire 104 (15.1 overs). Cumbria won by 80 runs Scorecard Video highlights

Cheshire were swept aside in their T20 double header with Cumbria at Toft.

A powerful visiting side - including Lancashire's Stephen Croft- outplayed their hosts who debuted Josh Boyden (Wigan) and Xavier Selby (Bowdon).

Invited to bat first time round, Cumbria went off at a frightening pace with Freddie Fallows (38) and Sam Dutton (60) cruising to 70 without loss from 10 overs.

As Cheshire took the pace of the ball, they  clawed their way back into the game with Harry Dearden taking 2-22 and Xander Selby 2-13.

Michael Slack - with a decent record against Cheshire - plundered 38 but the eventual total of  163-5 was less than it had looked at one stage.

The Cumbria attack opted for the more subtle route, slowing things down early on and although Cheshire started their reply confidently, wickets soon began to fall.

Will Evans on his return to the side looked in good nick with his 30 and Dearden made 20 but Cheshrie fell to 91 all out, Croft taking 3-22 and  Slack completing a fine all-round performance with 3-7.

Game 2

Deja vu second time around with Cumbria's 182-6 including 50 from Croft and 32 from Dutton. Boyden was the pick of the Cheshire bowlers with 3-27.

Again though, Cheshire found the going tough with the bat and could muster just 104 (Perry 35, Dearden 21). Croft completed an excellent day with 3-25.

Four points from the day for Cumbria who go on to face Staffordshire at Carlisle on Bank Holiday Monday while Cheshire take on Northumberland at Oxton.

Group 1 Table