A STU PARKIN hat-trick proved a false dawn and failed to inspire a Kendal comeback as St. Annes edged a low-scoring clash by three wickets at Shap Road.

Matthew Grindley and Toby Bulcock both claimed four wickets apiece as the home side limped to 108 all out from 47.2 overs, with Adam Cowperthwaite top scoring with 23.

Parkin’s heroics had St. Annes reeling in the early stages of their reply, although solid contributions from Adam Holt, Nanthesh Kiruparan, Nathan Bolus and Mitchell Bolus saw the visitors home.

After being invited to bat, Kendal were ticking over nicely before losing three wickets for the additional of six runs, as Grindley took centre stage with the ball.

Paul Dodds was the first to fall to the seamer for seven while the following over fellow opener Darren Moore was trapped in front by Lukman Vahaluwala for 21.

28-2 then became 32-3 in the 16th over as New Zealand professional Jamie How edged Grindley behind to wicketkeeper David Watson for four.

Terry Hunte and Ryan Shepherd joined forces to bring up the Kendal 50 only for Grindley to bowl the former for 11 – one of only four Kendal batsmen to reach double figures.

Ryan Shepherd was the next to go for 19, as Cumberland left-arm spinner Toby Bulcock claimed his first victim en route to figures of 4-27 from 12 overs.

The 23-year-old struck again six overs later to dismiss Gary Baker leg before, with the same bowler coming close to snaring Nick Lewthwaite, who was dropped at second slip.

Bulcock returned to dismiss Lewthwaite in his next over for three as Darren Braithwaite clipped Mitchell Bolus to square leg to fall for five.

Cowperthwaite looked to attack the St. Annes bowling and together with Chris Miller ensured Kendal reached three figures in the 45th over.

After amassing 23 from 28 balls, Cowperthwaite was bowled by Bulcock for 23 while Miller was the final man out as Grindley returned figures of 4-24.

Chasing just 109 for victory, St. Annes came under immense early pressure as Parkin bowled Kendal back into contention with a devastating early spell.

The Shap Road skipper dismissed his opposite number in the fourth over of the St. Annes reply, with Andy Kellet stumped by Baker for one.

Vahaluwala went next ball trapped in front with momentum firmly behind Parkin as he then stormed in to bowl Matthew Taafe and put Kendal firmly back in contention.

Holt and Kiruparan set about rebuilding the visitors’ innings and took the St Annes score to 33-3 in the 13th over before the latter was run out for 23.

Kiruparan batted with a degree of fluency and struck five boundaries in his knock as Holt smashed a six over deep square leg off Parkin.

With St. Annes looking ominous at 74-4 in the 24th over, Nathan Bolus was run out for 20 before Parkin removed Holt, caught by Moore, for a top score of 28.

With St. Annes suddenly 74-6, Bulcock and Mitchell Bolus progressed the score to 90 before the former was removed by Miller, caught by Hunte, for six.

Mitchell Bolus, who finished 21 not out, and Michael Harling guided St. Annes home in the 37th over, with hat-trick star Parkin the pick of the bowlers with 4-46.