SAM Dutton will be aiming for his form with the bat for Cumberland to continue this week when the county play their latest match at his home club's ground.

The three-day clash with Hertfordshire in the Unicorns Championship Eastern Division takes place at Furness Cricket Club, starting on Sunday, with Dutton leading the way for the county so far this year.

The batsman has scored 365 runs in nine appearances so far in 2018, including a blistering 112 from just 49 balls – including 17 fours and three sixes – in the 80-run win over Staffordshire in the Twenty20 competition at Penrith last month.

Dutton, whose father Simon was part of Cumberland's 1986 Minor County Championship-winning side, has a highest score of 84 in the three-day format, which came in the first innings away to Cambridgeshire just over three weeks ago.

Unfortunately, the match at Wisbech ended in an eight-wicket defeat for the visitors, which was followed by a four-wicket loss against Staffordshire at Netherfield.

Cumberland also bowed out of the 50-over knockout competition in the first round to finalists Cheshire in May and, although they recorded back-to-back wins over Northumberland in Group One of the Twenty20 competition, the team cannot qualify for the next stage.

A win over Hertfordshire, who beat Northumberland by eight wickets in their sole Championship match so far, in the encounter at Furness would therefore provide a huge boost to Gary Pratt's men. Play gets under way at 11am each day.

On the local club scene, the first piece of silverware in the North Lancashire and Cumbria Cricket League will be decided on then same day when Dalton's second team take on Egremont A in the final of the Vigodny Cup at Whitehaven.

Dalton reached the final after beating fellow Division Two side Cleator A by seven wickets in the semi-finals, but they face a stiffer challenge as they aim to cause an upset against the Division One leaders.

There is a big cup clash at Kirkby as well, where the hosts will be looking for a repeat of last Saturday high-scoring batting form when they face Workington seconds for a place in the Sowerby Cup final. The winners play Furness' second team for the trophy on August 19.

Kirkby, who racked up a league record 443 for 6 against Barrow A last weekend, and Workington meet the day before at the Ernest Valentine Ground in Division One. The Villagers had both openers, James Thornton and Alistair Bradley, scoring centuries in the game.

Hawcoat Park make the short trip to Vickerstown tomorrow aiming to keep up the pressure on the top two of Cockermouth A and Egremont.

Elsewhere, Ulverston hosts Barrow's second team, and Furness seconds make the trip to Seascale looking to put more of a gap between themselves and the bottom three.

Ahead of the county side heading to Furness Park, Dutton and his team-mates welcome Haverigg to their ground in the Premier Division.

Furness have already beaten Haverigg away in both the league and Higson Cup this year, and will be eager to maintain their pursuit of Cleator and Cockermouth.

There is a crunch clash at the bottom of the table when Dalton and Lindal Moor go head-to-head in a derby match, while Millom take on leaders Cleator.

In the Northern Premier League Division One, Barrow go into their match against bottom-of-the-table Preston buoyed after an impressive win away to fourth-placed Chorley last Saturday.

Glen Kermode's side would quite happily take a repeat of the previous meeting between the teams this year, which saw Barrow score a 117-run victory after bowling Preston out for just 83 in pursuit of a target of 201.