KENDAL'S bowlers were on top note to set up a convincing seven-wicket victory over Bay Northern Premier League title rivals, second-placed Chorley, on Saturday, writes Richard Daniels.

Pakistani Kabir Khan led the way with outstanding figures of 6 for 35 from 22 overs after he bowled straight through the innings.

On a stop-start afternoon because of rain it was a vital toss to win.

When he called correctly, Kendal skipper David Fallows stuck in Chorley to bat and a couple of breaks as the storm clouds rolled in allowed his bowlers to rest while breaking the concentration of the home batsmen.

Accurate wicket-to-wicket bowling from Kabir produced five successive maidens as he and fellow paceman Kevin Howarth restricted Chorley to a scoring-rate of barely two per over.

And when spinner Richard Ellwood joined the attack he kept a parsimonious grip on the runs, returning 3 for 19 from his 14 overs.

A spectacular initial breakthrough came when Terry Hunte took a diving catch at point to get rid of Neil Bannister off Howarth's bowling.

Chorley toiled to reach 50 after 25 overs and shortly afterwards skipper Roly Horridge departed to a leg- before decision off Kabir for 18.

The slide was on and Iqbal Patel went clean bowled in Kabir's next over without scoring.

Three runs later Ellwood, took a hand when he had Nigel Heaton caught behind for two.

After struggling to get the ball off the strip, Mark Richardson fell to Kabir for 19 compiled in 35 overs and the swing bowler trapped Ian Critchley leg before to make it 69-6.

Neil Senior was the last recognised batsmen to go, offering Hunte his second catch, with the score on 77 and the last three tailenders added just nine runs for a score of 86 all out.

Kendal sent Kabir in to open the innings instead of Steve Cooper but he was soon on his way back after clubbing a six and Gareth Ashburner was adjudged leg before without scoring as the visitors were

13-2 after five overs.

Simon Little (35 not out) and Terry Hunte (38) then took the score to 77 and, although Hunte went leg before to professional Josh Marquet, Kendal stayed patient to bring up a well-earned victory five overs later on 87-3.