Cricket - Kendal enlist Ashraf to deny Darwen (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Cricket - Kendal enlist Ashraf to deny Darwen

10:41am Sunday 1st May 2011 in Sport

FORMER Darwen professional Atif Ashraf hit a half-century to help Kendal deny his old club victory in a drawn match at Shap Road on Saturday.

Ashraf was acting as substitute professional with no sign of New Zealander Jamie How arriving for another week.

Kendal's decision to bowl left Darwen to make hay in the sun on a very benign pitch, helped by a litany of dropped catches, and they amassed 254-4 with Neil Cordingley (74no )and Chris Clarke (67) leading the way.

Cordingley hit 32 off one over, four sixes and two fours as Darwen scored 117 off the last 10 overs, 78 off the last five and 54 off the last three.

Jack White managed to put a couple of wickets together for his 2-18.

Kendal could not put together a telling partnership to match that scoring-rate but they avoided defeat after 50 overs at 164-7.

Ashraf's 51 was the top score with Terry Hunte (22) and Jonathan Miles (19) next best.

Netherfield's Alex Atkinson top-scored with 72 as they were put in to bat and made 185-6 at Lancaster, who were 161-7 in reply in another draw.

Marc Brown (31) and Nana Malik (25) were the other highest scorers as Tim Barry took 3-29.

Lancaster surendered seven wickets in reply, with opener Michael Stevens faring best for them with 72 before the top order crashed, leaving David Heywood to keep the show together with 44.

Opening bowler Stuart Nixon took 3-55 and John Mason 2-25