FORMER New Zealand international Jamie How was in prime form, smashing a devastating and unbeaten 150 as Kendal thrashed Preston to make Readers Cup progress.

How’s 82-ball stay at the crease saw him clobber 11 sixes as Kendal posted a mammoth 267-6 from their 40 overs, as Preston spinner Yasin Patel claimed four wickets.

Patel also contributed with the bat, top scoring for the visitors with 38, as Preston fell well short of their victory target, with Nick Lewthwaite and Chris Miller taking three wickets apiece.

After being put into bat, Kendal made steady progress before Jibran Khan dismissed Richard Herron for 11 in the ninth over, with the home side 25-1.

This wicket unleashed How on the Preston bowling unit with the 33-year-old reaching his half century from just 26 balls – a knock which included six fours and three sixes.

The Kendal scoreboard was rocketing along with the Shap Road club 115-1 at the halfway stage, with How 67 not out and Graham Baker unbeaten at the other end on 32.

Baker fell for 46, caught by Khan off the bowling of Soyeb Dukanwala, although there was very little respite for the Kendal attack as Terry Hunte arrived at the crease.

Kendal were 160-2 with ten overs remaining as How reached three figures for the second time this season off 69 balls, with eight fours and five sixes to his name.

The home side’s run rate topped ten in the final ten overs as How continued to punish the visiting attack, as Hunte departed for 41 – Patel’s second victim.

Ryan Shepherd, Gary Baker and Darren Braithwaite all fell cheaply as Patel returned figures of 4-48 from six overs with Andrew Starkie the most economical, conceding just 26 from six.

How’s assault continued, finishing 150 not out from 82 balls with a total of ten fours and 11 sixes as Kendal set Preston an improbable 268 for victory.

The Preston reply was devoid of any momentum or partnerships as Parkin induced an edge from Irshad Desai, caught by Herron, as the opener departed for three.

Lewthwaite bowled an exceptionally tight early spell and had the opportunity for a hat-trick after dismissing Sajid Patel and Khan in successive balls, with Preston 37-3 in the eighth over.

Professional Saeed Bariwala was bowled by Parkin for four with Lewthwaite’s third wicket seeing Zahoor Ahmed return to the pavilion and Preston struggling at 46-5 from ten overs.

Miller claimed the first of three wickets as Dukanwala was stumped by Herron and departed for 20, with Patel his next victim after hitting 38, which included six boundaries.

At 127-7 from 30 overs, Preston lost their remaining batsmen in quick succession, with Miller accounting for Javaid Hussain and Braithwaite dismissing Afzal Kapadia and Yasin Boda.

Ultimately, Kendal polished off their comfortable victory with more than five overs remaining, with How’s innings and return to the batting limelight the standout contribution.