Kendal (196-8) bt

Preston (114 all out)

KENDAL captain Chris Miller was delighted to see his young side pick up their first league win of the season at the fourth attempt which justified the faith he had shown in his players.

The Shap Road team had failed to deliver in all departments prior to the Preston game but everything came good on the day, much to the delight of Miller.

Kendal batted brightly and bravely - recovering from the sort of collapse that have blighted them in the early weeks of the campaign - then bowled out opponents for the first time this season.

"It was a good day at the office," said Miller. "We have put more emphasis on bowling this term so to dismiss a side for the first time this season was very pleasing.

"In recent weeks we have had teams in good positions but have failed to get rid of the tail. But we did that this week."

However, it was a batting performance that proved to be the foundation on which that first win was built on - and in particular that of opener Darren Braithwaite and Shane Hyland.

The pair came together at 77-4 with Kendal sensing another wobbly but they batted intelligently, putting together a 66-run partnership that helped take the total just four runs shy of the 200 mark.

It was an impressive display from the pair as Braithwaite, 21, was starting his first season as opener while Hyland, 22, is playing his first full season in the first XI.

"I know what these young players are capable of because I see it every week in training and I am delighted for them," added Miller.

"Every week in selection I am telling everyone just how good they are and it is very pleasing because they have delivered and it justifies the faith we have shown in them."

Put in to bat, Kendal lost Richard Herron for just two with 15 runs on the board, caught by Ralph Cairns off Sajid Patel.

Saeed Bariwala, who joined Kendal from Preston in the winter, was next to the crease and while Braithwaite kept the scoreboard ticking over, Bariwala added 10 to a 35-run second wicket stand.

Professional Eldred Hawken went for a duck, caught by Paul Masterson off Afzal Kapadia and Ryan Shepherd added 10 before he was one of Patel's three victims.

But Hyland entered the fray to steady the ship and helped turn the game in Kendal's favour.

When Braithwaite finally departed for an impressive 79 - which included five fours and two sixes - Hyland carried on and was unbeaten on 42 at the close with captain Miller weighing in with a nice 20 run cameo.

In reply, Kendal got the early breakthrough they wanted and then took wickets at regular intervals.

Yasin Boda was trapped lbw by Hawken for four before Mohmedrafik Patel was caught by Herron again off Hawken for three.

Patel and Yasin Patel put up some resistance, taking the total from 17-2 to 44-3 before Yasin was caugth and bowled by Miller for 20.

Sajid topped scored with 28 before he was caught by the professional of Bariwala who then caught and bowled Ilyas without a run added to the total.

Miller caught his second 'c and b' of the innings, Mustaq Tailor for six before trapping Cairns for eight.

The tail did wag slightly but the was to be no denying the Kendal bowlers, especially when Rehman Shah was caught by Hawken off Andrew Dugdale of 25.

The win has come just at the time as Kendal now face a trip to league leaders Blackpool on Saturday - the team they have tried to model themselves on.

"Blackpool have the strongest new ball bowling attack in the league so we know it is going to be tough.

"We have tried to copy their model of concentrating more on bowling rather than batting. If we can put pressure on their batsmen then it could be interested."