Kendal 223-8

Lytham 221

Kendal won by two wickets

ECB National Knock Out Cup

A DEPLETED Kendal won terrifically at home to a tough Lytham side to win a place in the area final against Ormskirk on June 23.

Missing Jack White, Stu Parkin, Nick Lewthwaite and Darren Moore, Kendal produced a sparkling performance to emerge triumphant.

Lytham won the toss and chose to bat, starting very strongly in the powerplay from the first 15 overs by racing to 90-0, with Alex Davies scoring 46 and Fayaz Ughradar 43.

All five bowlers chipped in with at least a wicket though as Kendal began to make inroads into the Lytham batting and they were eventually bowled out for 221 in the 44th over of 45, with 27 by Sam Holliday off 29 balls and Daniel Edwards’ 25 from 21 balls adding to the score.

Ryan Nelson’s 2-19 was pick of the bowling figures, and he put on 39 with Darren Braithwaite when the pair opened the batting before he was caught by Michael Rigby off Anthony Mulligan for 22.

Braithwaite was out for nine and Shane Hyland was dismissed for a five-ball duck, leaving Kendal 40-3 when Terry Hunte and Paul Dodds took to the crease together.

Hunte struck six fours and two maximums, while eight boundaries from Dodds helped the Shap Road outfit as they put on a 99-run partnership to give Kendal every chance before Rigby caught Hunte off Ben Saunders to give the veteran 53 off 50 balls.

The drama continued as Dodds plugged away to score 67 runs, with Gary Baker supporting him thanks to 15 runs, but the wickets fell as Richard Herron and Darren Nightingale failed to reach double figures.

Adam Cowperthwaite was unbeaten on 13 off 16 balls while Chris Miller struck eight runs in as many deliveries to win the match in the last over of the game against the reigning Liverpool Premier League champions.