KENDAL Cricket Club were involved in another dramatic game at Shap Road as they defeated Lancaster by 26 runs on a hot afternoon.

Ben Phillips’ first innings knock of 53 off 76 balls saw Kendal post a competitive total of 184 off 49 overs.

Kendal were in a strong position at the start of the second innings when they ripped through Lancaster, who slumped to 15-4.

However, Lancaster’s Indian professional Atharva Taide caused problems for Kendal after his knock of 91 off 106 balls put the visitors in contention for victory.

Kendal eventually regained control after Chalana Da Silva saw off Taide, before demolishing Lancaster’s lower order with the away side all out for 158.

Kendal, who lost the toss and were put into bat, saw Chris Miller and Darren Nightingale put on a first-wicket stand of 55.

Nightingale batted well for 31 off just 38 balls, but played one shot too many after seeing his drive for six caught by Laurie Atkinson off the bowling of Lancaster captain Ben Simm.

Kendal then suffered a collapse after Yuvraj Chhabra lasted three balls before being trapped LBW by Atharva Taide.

Kendal were four wickets down after David Steinson bowled Tom Aspinwall for two off seven balls, going from 55-1 to 78-4.

Phillips and Da Silva recovered the innings with a resistant fifth-wicket stand of 62, propelling Kendal to 126.

Lancaster battled back as Kendal lost a cluster of quick wickets with both Da Silva and Joseph Dodds falling to Taide.

Phillips and Harry Lee held their nerve as they edged Kendal into a more secure position of 162 with Lee falling victim to Simm.

And Phillips, who top scored with 53 off 76 balls, saw his fine innings come to an end when his big hit for six was well taken by Atkinson off the bowling of Simm. Richard Dakin and Kuldeep Singh batted out the remaining overs, with Kendal all out for 184.

Kendal made the early breakthrough at the start of the second innings as Lancaster slumped onto 8-2.

The Auld Greys went onto claim two more wickets with Lancaster now on 15-4 after Phillips ran out Lewis McGinley, before Aspinwall bowled Atkinson.

However, Taide and Andrew Chubb began to rebuild the innings with the visitors edging towards 82 before Miller trapped Chubb LBW.

Lancaster recovered and almost pulled off a remarkable comeback mainly thanks to Taide who produced a stunning batting display.

Taide with the support of Simm, posted a sixth-wicket stand of 101, but with Kendal under pressure they finally made the breakthrough after Singh trapped Simm LBW.

Once the partnership had been broken, Kendal began to take control where Singh bowled Danny Welbourne, before Da Silva claimed the wicket of Taide who was caught by Miller for 91.

The Auld Greys ripped through the lower order, where Miller bowled Damar Graham, before Kuldeep Singh finished with figures of 4-32 after he trapped Lee Sparks LBW, with Lancaster all out for 158 off 45.3 overs.