KENDAL CC dropped into the relegation zone in Northern Cricket League Division One after losing by four wickets to Penrith at Shap Road.

Kendal who are now second from bottom in the table continued to struggle with the bat after Penrith sub professional Nick Benton returned first innings figures of 7-43 as The Auld Greys were all out for 109 off 44.3 overs.

Kendal battled back in the second innings when West Indian professional Jason Dawes bowled 4-35, while Penrith were in trouble on 43-4 however Benton’s top score of 47 off 41 balls and Kieron Trevaskis’s undefeated 26 off 51 balls guided Penrith to victory as the visitors closed on 114-6 off 36.2 overs.

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After winning the toss and electing to bat, Kendal made a positive start in the first over as Zachary McCaskie and Oliver Tyson scored 14 runs from Benton first six balls.

However from a relatively good start, Kendal collapsed as Greg Hall bowled Tyson for five before Benton ripped through to dismiss both Dawes and Ryan Shephard as the hosts were soon in trouble on 26-3.

One of the only positives for Chris Miller's team was the batting of 16-year-old Finlay Richardson who dug in for a steady knock of 21 as the hosts managed to get onto 50. Both Richardson and McCaskie were beginning to find their rhythm however any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Benton picked up two quick wickets to dismiss McCaskie for 27 off 31 and Lachlan Stewart for 0 as Kendal slumped onto 50-5.

Benton dominated the Kendal innings after the Australian despatched of Richardson whose attempted drive to the boundary fell into the grasps of Jessie Dinnie before Edward Price was trapped LBW.

Saeed Bariwala and Miller offered some respite, before a bowling change by the visitors paid dividends after Nick Marshall picked up the wicket of Bariwala whose mistimed drive was well taken by Dinnie.

Kendal from that point struggled onto 93 before Richard Dakin picked out Penrith captain Jonathon Osbourne off the bowling of Dinnie before Benton took the wicket of Toby Tyson who picked out Osbourne while Kendal were all out for 109. Miller finished undefeated on 25 off 66 balls.

In reply Kendal battled back after Penrith were reduced to 38-3 as Dawes dismissed Samuel Hall and Eddie Robson before Dinnie was stumped by Dakin off the bowling of Bariwala.

Kendal were given further optimism when Greg Hall was bowled by Bariwala as Penrith slumped onto 43-4.

However any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Benton and Keiran Trevaskis put on a solid fifth wicket stand of 62 as the visitors pushed onto 101.

Dawes finished with a return of 4-35 as Benton fell for 47 off 41 balls while Jonathon Osbourne was trapped LBW for 0. Trevaskis who finished with an undefeated 26 off 51 balls guided Penrith to victory as they closed on 114-6 off 36.2 overs.

Kendal face a crucial game as they travel to play bottom of the table Morecambe at Woodhill Lane on Saturday before they travel to play Penrith on Sunday in the Twenty-20 competition.