THE LAUNCH day for the new coloured strips for team taking place in Saturday's first round of the Thwaites Smooth Bewer Cup had one predominant tone - a uniform grey, writes Richard Daniels.

The wet weather which has dogged the season since it started six weeks ago continued as the rain pelted down and forced all the first division and second division cup matches into bowl-outs as per the rules.

All-rounder Kevin Howarth (pictured right) was Kendal's hero when he hit the stumps in a sudden-death finish after both sets of 11 players had a go and the score was tied at 2-2, Stuart Parkin and Martin South the other Shap Road men on target.

Netherfield were not so fortunate with the hit-or-miss approach and lost 3-2 to Blackpool with Ryan Wilson and Rishi Girdhari striking the wickets for the Parkside team.

In the Second XI Cup competitions, the ties all ended with bowl-outs again and Netherfield Seconds won 3-2 with Phil Hartley, Graeme Diodds and Ben Haddrick on target.

Kendal Seconds lost their bowl-out 3-2.

Kendal's Lancashire Cup match at home to Vernon Carus on Sunday was washed out and the teams were due to meet in a reduced overs game, probably 20 overs, at Shap Road tonight (Thursday).

- Highlight of the Bank Holiday double header is Monday's derby meeting between Netherfield and Kendal at Parkside Road.

May 23, 2003 10:30