LANCASTER captain Jamie Heywood joined forces with New Zealand professional Michael Barry to lead the Lune Road club to an impressive ten-wicket victory and cast aside their early season woes.

Heywood and Barry finished unbeaten on 86 and 84 respectively as Lancaster comfortably chased down their victory target of 176 inside 27 overs.

Darren Moore top scored as the visitors posted 175-9 from their 50-over allocation with off-spinner Iain Burstow accounting for the majority of Kendal’s middle and lower order.

After being put into bat, the scoreboard ticked over before Liam Moffatt claimed the first Kendal wicket as Graham Baker edged behind to Charlie Swarbrick, with Kendal 34-1 after ten overs.

New Zealander Jamie How added 14 before falling to fellow countryman Barry, with Kendal struggling at 58-3 in the 17th over as Terry Hunte edged the same bowler behind to depart without scoring.

Kendal’s inauspicious start continued after a mini-revival, with Burstow claiming two wickets and dismissing Ryan Shepherd and Gary Baker in the same over.

Moore and Darren Braithwaite ensured Kendal reached triple figures before the latter was trapped in front by Burstow for 12, with the away side 101-6 in the 38th over.

Nick Lewthwaite also departed for 12 as Burstow completed his five-wicket haul by snaring Cowperthwaite, who was caught by Heywood, for a duck.

With wickets falling at the over end, Moore maintained his composure and brought up his half century in the 45th over, with Kendal 128-8 at this stage.

Moore found a willing partner in Chris Miller, with the duo adding a vital 49 for the ninth wicket to ensure Kendal amassed a score which at the change of innings at least looked defendable.

Miller eventually fell to Barry – who finished with 3-24 from eight overs – for 21 with two balls remaining, although the Kendal plaudits belonged to Moore who finished undefeated on 73.

Lancaster have endured a difficult season to date but made light work of their victory chase as Heywood and Barry dealt with any threat offered by the Kendal bowling attack.

The pair brought up their half century partnership as Lancaster reached 71-0 off 20 overs, and then added a further 23 runs to have a stranglehold on proceedings at 94-0 at the halfway stage.

Both batsmen had posted their half centuries by the 30th over, as the runs continued to flow and Lancaster edged ever closer to a standout victory.

Heywood and Barry were unstinting in piling on the runs, with Lancaster’s win rubberstamped in the 37th over, as Kendal utilised seven bowlers in a bid to make a breakthrough.

There was even four balls for Hunte as the veteran rolled back the years, with Heywood finishing undefeated on 86, with Barry not too far behind on 84 not out.

There were 23 boundaries in total, with Heywood plundering 12 and Barry 11, as Kendal suffered their third Northern League defeat in as many games after losses to Fleetwood and Lancashire Colts.