PATIENCE is a virtue that Kendal are appreciating as the season progresses and it was the key to an impressive seven-wicket win away to Leyland Motors on Saturday, writes Richard Daniels.

The 12-point victory keeps the Shap Road side fifth in the pecking order but they take closer order on the sides immediately above them in the Bay Northern Premier League first division table.

Athough still 19 points off their pace-setting neighbours Netherfield, the title is still up for grabs believes skipper David Fallows.

"All the top six team are beating each other, so it will be a side which can put together the most consistent run who will take the championship," he said.

Kendal won the toss on Saturday and it suited their approach to test the opposition with their strong bowling attack.

The pitch at Sandy Lane looked bowler-friendly but too many four-balls went into the scorebook and the ball was rarely put in the right area to test the batsmen.

Opener James Aspinwall benefited for a top-scoring 72, most of his runs coming off the back foot through midwicket off the short stuff, while Motors' other main contributor was Stuart Catterall with 40 before they were all out for 182.

It might have been more but for Kendal leg-spinner Paul Wilson, who came on after 25 overs and immediately snapped up a wicket.

He was the only bowler to find a consistent line and length and his four for 54 off 16.1 overs was the best return on both sides.

The target of 182 Kendal faced looked 40 more runs than it should have been and the omens did not look good when openers Alan Fawcett and Simon Little were both out with only nine on the scoreboard.

It took a watchful comeback from Terry Hunte and Kevin Howarth to put the visitors back on track.

Twenty balls went by without Hunte making a scoring shot and his partner showed similar caution and it eventually paid off.

Once established, the pair began to attack and shared a match-winning stand of 97 for the third wicket in 24 overs, taking the score from nine to 110.

Howarth was stumped going down the wicket to Catterall's spin but Hunte remained an unmoveable object and unleased his strokeplay with a six and 14 fours in his unbeaten 90.

Motors' hopes that Howarth's departure might prompt a collapse proved foundless as professional Kabir Khan came in for a steady 22 to help see the side home at 183 for three with six overs to spare.

Fallows said: "It was the patient, determined approach which paid off and allow Hunte and Howarth to push on and attack from a sound base.

"If we get that sort of start, we have the strength in depth in the middle-order and have the belief that we can beat any

side on the day."

- The visit by the Rashid Latif Academy side this Sunday has been cancelled because many of the Pakistan Test side have signed up as sub professionals.

- Kendal have a lot to gain if overcoming Lancaster at Shap Road in the first round of the Slater Cup on Saturday.

If successful, they have a second-round bye with home advantage in the semi-finals and final if successful.