KENDAL will advance to the semi-finals of the Silver group competition after their latest win against Lytham.

Held at Shap Road, the Kendal side beat the visiting club by 77 runs.

The Auld Greys, who are joint top of the division, have now qualified into the next stages of the competition with one game to spare following a resounding performance against a stubborn opponent.

Ben Phillips’ knock of 55 and Oliver Tysons 33 saw Kendal post a resounding 171-5 off 40 overs, before Toby Tysons’ return of 3-13 saw Lytham close on 94-6.

Darren Nightingale and Chris Miller laid the platform with an opening first wicket stand of 22, before Nightingale was caught behind by Matthew Taaffe off the bowling of Thomas Hessey.

Miller and James Park pushed the score onto 55 before Jack Saunders trapped Miller LBW, while the visitors battled their way back into the game when Kendal were reduced to 80-4, with both Park and Tom Aspinwall dismissed.

Park fell to Saunders after being caught behind by Taaffe while Aspinwall picked out Tom Jefferson off Guy Roberts delivery.

However, the fifth wicket stand of 87 between Ben Phillips and Oliver Tyson saw Kendal gain full control of the first innings with Phillips posting a resounding knock of 55 off 65 balls.

Phillips fine innings eventually came to an end after he was dismissed by Thomas Hessey, while Oliver Tyson closed on an undefeated 33 with Kendal finishing on 171-5.

In reply, Lytham frustrated Kendal where they went on the defensive for the second innings without ever looking like getting near Kendal’s first innings total.

Kendal bowled well and claimed the early breakthrough after Toby Tyson trapped Tom Jefferson LBW, before Kuldeep Singh bowled Richard Openshaw with Lytham struggling on 11-2.

Toby Tyson claimed the wicket of Guy Roberts as Lytham continued to toil before a frustrating spell of batting by Edward Fiddler and Thomas Hessey saw the visitors slowly edged their score onto 55. Both faced a lot of deliveries for hardly any runs especially Fiddler who had faced 70 balls for just 21 runs. Singh finished with his second wicket soon after when he dismissed Chris Cartmell who had faced 2 deliveries for no runs.

However, Lytham saw out the game without getting anywhere near Kendal’s total, while Thomas Hessey remained undefeated on 16 after facing 91 balls. They closed on 94-6.

Kendal will host Longridge on Saturday.