Carlisle slumped to a first league defeat of the season as Cockermouth grabbed the points at Edenside and narrowed the gap between second and third place in the Cumbria Cricket Premier Division.

Carlisle came into the game unbeaten and on the tails of leaders Furness, with an 18-point advantage over Cockermouth.

But after being asked to bat first, Cockermouth were quick to seize on some wayward early bowling as the home side struggled to find control.

Together, Matthew Sempill and skipper, Alex Grainger added 67 for the first wicket before Henry Walker made the breakthrough, snaffling a return catch from Sempill.

It didn't get any easier for Carlisle, though, as Grainger and Greg Platten built on a solid start to add impetus to the innings before the visiting captain edged a Michael Slack delivery to Craig Manchester behind the stumps.

Platten continued to dominate the Edenside attack, and his 69 from just 77 balls, including three sixes, helped the visitors finish on an imposing 233-6.

Carlisle's best bowler once again was professional, Michael Slack who returned figures of 3-52 from 15 overs.

In response, Ben Davidson and Michael Slack added 75 for the first wicket before Slack fell LBW to the finger spin of his Cumberland county colleague, Sempill.

Although Davidson continued to anchor the innings, wickets fell at regular intervals, pushing up the asking rate.

An attacking flurry from the opener, who together with Henry Walker ran a five as Carlisle strived to stage a late assault, proved insufficient.

For Cockermouth, spinners Sempill and Mark Middleton shared seven wickets, while Sri Lankan Kavishka Anjula picked up two.

Ben Davidson's 84 from his team's 194 was a personal highlight, but Carlisle must now travel to Millom next week with the pressure on once again to cut the points deficit to Furness who remain top.