England star Ben Stokes has organised a special T20 fundraiser for his first club, Cockermouth.

The New Zealand-born international wanted to put something back to the club following their troubles over the Storm Desmond floods which caused so much damage in 2015.

Although unable to play because of his Test commitments, Stokes will host the event and has arranged for a Masters XI to take on the host club. On England duty, Stokes scored another century against South Africa today, bringing up his ton with three straight sixes.

The Masters have a squad of 30 players to draw from. They will be captained by Mark Ramprakash and could include the likes of Steve Harmison, Cumbria's Paul Nixon and John Emburey.

Cockermouth secretary Geoff Minshaw said: “It’s going to be a full day with junior games in the morning, matches for the disabled, and then the big game will start about 3.30-4pm.”

Adult tickets are £10 with children £5 or people can pay on the door.

Meanwhile, in the North Lancs & Cumbria Premier Division, Carlisle were thwarted in their efforts to close the gap on one of the leading two sides.

With leaders Workington travelling to second-placed Furness, points were going to be dropped there.

In the end, Furness beat the champions to close the gap on them to just two points.

But Carlisle’s home game with Keswick was one of three to be abandoned without a ball being bowled.

In fact, the only game to be played to a conclusion last weekend was the top-of-the-table battle at Furness Park.

Workington had gone into the game with an eight-point lead but that was reduced to two when they lost by 33 runs. It was a game decided by a sixth-wicket partnership for Furness which completely turned around their fortunes.

They were 86-5 in the 27th over but Mark Daly and pro Seth Rance put on 101 off only 63 balls. Rance was dismissed for 55 off only 36 balls and that included seven sixes.

Daly scored 58 and the innings ended on 212-7. They had scored 120 off the last 10 overs.

The Workington reply got off to a dreadful start with skipper Robbie Lambert run out for two and leading batsman Callum Moffat dismissed for a duck.

Eventually at 78-5 off 20 overs they were looking at a heavy defeat.

Professional Kaushalya Gajasinghe dug in for a fine 57 and there was solid support from Adam Chambers (21) and Callum Sutton (32 not out) before they closed on 179-9, taking four points.

The two sides are likely to be locked in a straight battle for the title with little to choose between them (give or take a rain-off or two) until they meet in the very last game of the season at Workington.

Tomorrow, weather permitting, Carlisle have the opportunity to add to Workington’s disappointment when they meet at the Valentine Ground.

Carlisle do maintain a healthy 13-point lead over Cleator, their closest rivals in the Premier League.

Two changes are made for the trip to league leaders Workington tomorrow with Andy Trickett and Henry Walker coming in to replace Dan Gomersall and Taryn Reay.

Justin Greaves will be returning home after the County Cup final in mid-August after being recalled for Barbados’s pre-season.

Greaves has been outstanding for Carlisle this year and it is hoped that he will return next season to Edenside for the 2018 campaign.

Secretary Mark Davidson said: “It’s disappointing to lose Justin for the final few weeks of the season, but good for him to be doing so well and clearly in Barbados’s plans back home as they plan for their season.

“We’ll be sourcing a sub-pro in the next couple of weeks as we plan for the final month of the North Lancs campaign.

“Saturday will provide us with a stern examination at champions Workington as they look to bounce back after their defeat at Furness last week.”

Furness are at home to Cleator, and that might not be so easy as the west Cumbrians have been producing some decent performances of late.

Keswick will take on Cockermouth at Fitz Park – a match between two sides locked together on 64 points, 23 ahead of bottom side Dalton. Just above the pair are Wigton who have a chance to improve their position tomorrow as they travel to Dalton.

In the Northern League, Penrith came up just short in a good game at Netherfield.

Put in to bat Netherfield were indebted to 54 from opener Ben Barrow for reaching 132 all out.

Sri Lankan Chirag Khurana took 4-3 for Penrith.

The Cumbrians were 103-4 but collapsed to 123 all out with Khurana top-scoring on 30. Tom Williamson took 5-23 at fourth change.

Tomorrow Penrith travel to Blackpool.