SOUTH African professional Pieter Strydom cracked a century in the first match of the new Northern Premier League season to steer Netherfield to a seven-wicket win over Chorley on Saturday.

Strydom made an unbeaten 105 and was supported strongly by Craig Walmsley, 50, and Rishi Girdhari, 34 not out, as the visitors knocked off a big total of 240-5.

Chorley opener Tom Smith had posted the highest score with an unbeaten 139 but it could not spare his side from defeat on their own Windsor Park ground.

Strydom took 3-50 as the best of a Netherfield bowling attack which was missing David Wheatman and Scott Clement.

Kendal professional Kabir Khan was delayed by a visa problem for their opening-day clash.

Compatriot 'Ata' Rehman deputised in a tough home mission against champions Darwen and the Shap Road side suffered a five-wicket defeat.

Asked to bat by the visitors, Kendal slumped to 37-3 and then 92-8 before a final flurry of runs took them to 135 all out in 54 overs.

Simon Little top-scored with 35 with Darwen's Jeff Hacking taking 4-11 and Keith Semple 3-43.

Kendal dropped three early catches as the breakthrough eluded them and Semple capitalised by hitting eight fours in his top-scoring 44 as Darwen knocked off the runs for five wickets in 33 overs.

April 22, 2003 22:00