PROUD new dad and Kendal captain Stu Parkin declared himself a frustrated figure after his team suffered bowl out heartbreak in the Reader’s Cup semi-final.

Sunday’s persistent rain put an end to any chances of the game against the Lancashire Colts getting underway.

League rules stated the match must have been decided on the day and Kendal went on to lose the bowl out 7-3.

“I don’t agree,” said Parkin. “I feel very aggrieved and feel we could have played next Sunday. The league was dragging their heels and it’s a real shame a semi-final was decided on a bowl-out.

“It may sound like sour grapes but it’s a real shame for all involved at the club. The umpires were keen to get the game on but the chap in charge at the Colts has more of a duty of care than I do because obviously they are under 19 and under 17 players.”

He added: I’ve been involved in four or five bowl outs and never seen seven hit out of nine.”

Parkin’s wife Melissa delivered baby Noah on Thursday which meant the skipper missed out on Kendal’s losing draw against Barrow at Shap Road on Saturday.

“I would like thank everyone at Helme Chase Maternity Unit for their help and support,” said Parkin. “There were a couple of complications so we had to be blue-lighted down to Lancaster which I’m secretly gutted about, I wanted him to be born in Cumbria!”

A 138 third-wicket partnership between Indian professional Kaustubh Pawar and Sam Dutton looked to have sent Barrow on their way to a win but rain began to fall with just one Kendal wicket remaining – and the players never returned from the pavilion giving the home side an unlikely losing draw.

“When a team scores over 250 it’s a long way to get back into the game,” he said.

“You’ve got to go some to win it and unfortunately we were quite depleted on the bowling front and I think that showed.

“Marcus Hill came in from the second team and bowled well taking three wickets so he will have enjoyed his experience but with myself and Adam (Cowperthwaite) missing we were two mainline seam bowlers down. Credit to Barrow who batted really well but the rain did come to our aid.”

Kendal face local rivals Netherfield this Bank Holiday Monday at Parkside Road and Parkin hopes his team can now push on in the league.

“We’ve still got league positions to play for,” he said. “Netherfield is always a massive game. Even though both teams are sitting mid-table there are bragging rights to play for.

"I think we are the underdogs. They have had the beating of us for the last five/six years but it would be nice to get a league win up at their ground.”

Kendal also host Chorley on Saturday at Shap Road in the league.