Scudding grey clouds, bursts of rain and a galumphing near-gale made Milverton more of a Macbeth-like blasted heath than a summer cricket pitch yesterday. Still, it was a happy hunting ground for the home side, who cast the spells to unhorse Carlisle to the tune of eight wickets in this tense League Section A confrontation. After the previous day's away victory over Merrion, The Hills have every right to be alive with the sound of music.

The match was reduced to 52 overs after an early deluge and Carlisle, batting first, were well contained after a promising start, in which Mark Cohen and Paul Cron put on 61 for the first wicket before Cohen, the former Ireland player, was run out.

Cohen and Andrew Barling were their team's top scorers, with 35 apiece, while Cron and Richard Davies both contributed a useful 23.

Luke Clinton (two for 23 off 11 overs) and Barry Archer (two for 27 off nine) were most the most - indeed the only - successful bowlers for The Hills.

But excellent fielding was a hallmark of the home team's performance; Carlisle were contained to about three runs per over, and the reward was three runs-out.

When The Hills batted, Paul Mooney became the day's fourth batsman to be run out, after he and Patrick Byrne had shared a 44-run first-wicket stand.

After Byrne departed at 122 for two after making an excellent 53, Barry Archer, the top-scorer with an undefeated 59, and skipper Declan Moore saw The Hills home.

A decisive result, certainly. But all credit to depleted Carlisle, and their canny elder (ahem) statesmen, who made The Hills work hard for victory.