SIXTEEN-year-old schoolboy Sam Cooper foiled Netherfield's challenge to set up a three-run win for Kendal in the ECB Cockspur Cup knockout match on Wednesday evening.

Cooper scooped a fantastic 5-26 off just 3.2 overs of off-spin and, most importantly, snuffed out a potential match-winning half-century partnership between Tommy Prime and Graeme Dodds.

Professionals cannot play in the competition and the match was reduced to 20 overs after Sunday's postponement.

Kendal seized the chance to bat and set a target of 139-7 with openers Ikram Ullah (47) and Terry Hunte (32) putting on 90 for the first wicket.

Both went in the space of three runs to Mark Daly's bowling and it was left to Alan Thompson''s cameo of 24 in 16 balls to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Daly returned 3-37 and Walmsley 2-24.

Netherfield reached 25 without loss in reply but then lost four wickets for 10 runs.

Eevergreen paceman Adrian Potts took three scalps and Stuart Nelson, another 16-year-old in the Kendal side, collected a victim to leave the home team at 35-4.

The experienced pair of Prime (32) and Dodds (25) set about putting Netherfield back on track, but with the score on 89 Cooper removed them both in one over. Prime was caught by Andy Richardson at mid-wicket and then Dodds followed lbw.

Netherfield struggled to recover with 47 wanted to win off six overs, and their last pair went into the last over with still 11 required. After a wide, Ryan Wilson hit a six but was lbw to Cooper next ball, his side still four runs short of victory on 136.

Sharing the bowling honours with Cooper's 5-26 was Potts with 3-19, while Nelson bowled a very good line and length for his 1-16.

n Kendal are at home in the third round to Fleetwood Hesketh of the Liverpool Competition on Sunday, June 3 (1pm).