KENDAL geared up for their Readers Cup final against Fleetwood with a winning draw against Barrow.
The Shap Road side looked set to claim all 15 points but rain spoiled their chances of what would have been a comfortable victory against the league leaders.
Kendal opener Nick Phillips put in a good shift to score 34, and he was the home side’s biggest hitter as most of the Westmorlanders’ batters reached double figures having been asked to bat by Barrow.
Sub-pro Werner Coetzee, in at number three, picked up 13 runs, including two fours, before he was caught by Robin Adams off Daryl Wearing to leave Kendal 45-2.
Terry Hunte, so impressive several times this season, managed 15 but Jack White and Nick Lewthwaite both scored a respectable 22 runs, the latter off just 22 balls, as Kendal kept the scoreboard ticking over.
Barrow pro Vaughn Van Jaarsveld bowled five maidens from his 25 overs, claiming 4-54 as Kendal posted 144-8.
Barrow lost four overs in reply as the rain started to come down, and Kendal’s bowlers really turned the screw on Barrow.
The league leaders couldn’t get going as Jack White and Stu Parkin tore into the top order.
The magnificent White bowled 4-15 as he claimed the wickets of Jonathan Miles for four, with Phillips catching, while Ryan Brown was dismissed for a three-ball duck when he was trapped LBW by White.
Pro Van Jaarsveld also fell for three runs off 21 balls when Chris Miller caught him off White.
Parkin also got in on the act as he dismissed opener Nicky Burns for two when South African Coetzee caught him.
He also claimed the wicket of the ever-dangerous Liam Livingstone on his way to figures of 2-15. Livingstone was out for just one when wicket keeper Shane Hyland caught him as Barrow slumped to 12-5.
Top scorer for Barrow was Greg Reynolds with just 12 as Coetzee picked up the wicket of Chris D’Leny LBW for 11, while Miller bowled Reynolds.
The best partnership was just 21 for Barrow, which came off the last pair of Adams (nine not out) and Glen Kermode (11 not out) as Barrow reached 57-8 and had no chance of catching up with Kendal.
But the rain started to pour down after the 39th over and no further play was possible, meaning Kendal could only score seven points from the winning draw instead of what would have been a sure-fire 15 points if the weather had not intervened.
The Netherfield versus Kendal derby was called off at 10am on Bank Holiday Monday as puddles formed in the outfield due to the heavy rain.
Netherfield’s tie at Blackpool on Saturday was also abandoned at 3.30pm because of a wet wicket.