ALL-ROUNDER Kevin Howarth deputises for Kendal skipper Dave Fallows, who is on holiday. KEVIN: At 11:30am the St. Annes square looked more like a football goalmouth in January than a cricket pitch.

So after three hours of waiting for the groundsmen to do their work we were quite relieved when we won the toss and stuck them in.

We bowled tight at the start, but Jimmy Adams batted well on a difficult strip to get St. Annes to a decent platform for the last 10-over push.

With wickets in hand they managed to get 163 from their 40 overs, probably 20 more runs than ideally we would have liked.

So with only 35 overs to reply it was always going to be tight. The batting started well with Ikram's explosive style giving us the momentum we needed to get the run-rate up.

Some great strokes and hard running from Kabir Khan managed to make it seven needed from the last over. Needless to say, in the fading light, things went against us right at the end and we fell a run short of winning.

Very disappointing, but we can't complain with the way things have been going for us in the second half of the season.

One of the factors in our change in league form has been the presence of Stuart Parkin back in the side from a trip to Australia. A loud, positive approach out in the field and in the changing room has been lacking this season, but never when Parky's around.

Saturday was another good game for Kabir. We've never doubted his bowling ability but always hoped he could give us more with his exciting batting.

This season he has done just that and as the complete professional I know out of the two professionals we saw on Saturday, Kabir would be my choice every time.

TOMMY: Well, we definitely know were in a title race after the weekend. It was another decent result for us to take 10 points from the Blackpool match, but Fleetwood's win cuts our lead to five points and everyone needs to be up and ready for the big derby game at Kendal on Monday.

Before then we have a chance to reach the Thwaites League Cup final at Leyland on Sunday - and we are keen to put right last year's result as beaten finalists!

It was good to see 'Benky' get his first century for the club and he had relished the switch to opening the innings - he's in top form and looks as if he can bat all day.

We say farewell to South African Byron Kennedy, who has done a great job for the Seconds, batting and keeping wicket, as well as helping out with the juniors. He is a committed cricketer has been accepted into the academy back home, but we hope to see him again sometime and wish him all the best.

Congratulations go to Dave Stansfield and his Netherfield Fourths side for lifting the Woodbridge and Mounsey Cup in the Westmorland League - a superb effort by the side which is a credit to all concerned.