SALIYA Saman dominated the Kendal bowling attack as Netherfield opened their Twenty20 campaign with a crushing nine-wicket derby win at Parkside Road.

Tom Williamson, Brad Earl, Marc Brown and Saman all claimed two wickets apiece as Kendal mustered just 72 from their 20 overs, with only Nick Lewthwaite and Adam Cowperthwaite reaching double figures.

Netherfield made light work of the run chase, knocking off their victory target in 6.5 overs as Saman and Ben Phillips finished unbeaten on 31 and 25 respectively.

Aside from Darren Moore’s straight drive to the boundary rope in the second over, tight bowling from Saman and Mark Clarkson resulted in dot balls and increasing early pressure.

Moore departed for five, trapped in front by Saman, as Kendal continued to trade in singles and move the score slowly to 11-1 after five overs.

In between two economical overs from slow left-armer Tom Williamson, Clarkson bowled Ben Harrison for five in his third and final over – returning figures of 1-10.

The crucial wicket of Jamie How followed in the eighth, run out following Phillips’ throw from mid-wicket after a mix up with batting partner Terry Hunte, with Kendal struggling at 18-3.

Hunte skipped down the wicket to smack Williamson through the covers for four before holing out to Clarkson at mid-wicket two balls later and departing for six.

Williamson bowled his four-over allocation unchanged, claiming 2-12, with Darren Braithwaite edging behind to John Huck for four, with Kendal staring down the barrel at 33-5 after 11 overs.

Huck was on hand to claim Ryan Shepherd’s top-edge off Brown while also stumping Richard Herron for four off Brad Earl as Kendal’s trial by spin continued.

Lewthwaite slog swept Earl for six before a repeat was dropped by Saman, although Earl had his man later that over, with Kendal 54-8 after 16 overs.

Chris Miller departed for a duck after picking out Earl at deep mid-wicket in Brown’s penultimate over – the skipper finished with 2-20 – as Kendal limped to 56-9.

The Cavaliers’  final pair shared the highest partnership of the innings, putting on 18 as Cowperwaite clobbered Brown for six to finish 11 not out before Stu Parkin edged Saman behind for eight.

In reply, Netherfield’s innings started with a bang as Craig Walmsley pulled Lewthwaite’s first ball for four, adding a further boundary in the opening over with the hosts 10-0.

Phillips took successive boundaries off Miller to leave Netherfield cruising at 20-0 before Parkin gave Kendal a glimmer of hope by bowling Walmsley in his first over.

Ten runs were taken off Cowperthwaite’s first over, with Netherfield 31-1 off four, before Saman came to the party in dramatic style as the home side put their rivals to the sword.

The 28-year-old smashed Parkin for a straight six, followed up by a four to extra cover, as Phillips also drove the Kendal skipper to the boundary ropes.

The Sri Lankan’s top-edge offered a difficult chance to a diving Miller at deep cover point as Netherfield brought up their 50 in the sixth over.

Saman then showcased his power by crashing Cowperthwaite for a huge six and adding a further boundary, before victory was sealed in the seventh over.

Phillips ended matters with two fours to finish unbeaten on 25, with Saman underlying his credentials in the shortest form of the game with 31, adding to an impressive bowling spell of 2-7 off four overs.