HOSPITABLE Stretford hosted Kendal in the first round of the Thwaite Lancashire Cup on Sunday and Tony Yasin helped himself on the field, smashing a vital half- century.

Yasin has a reputation as a big-hitter and he came good with 51 off 34 balls, with three fours and three sixes.

It was just the sort of vibrant innings the Shap Road men needed after being asked to bat.

What had appeared to be a solid start as 40 in 10 overs came up without loss, suddenly turned to 63-4 with Kevin Howarth (37) and Ikram Ullah (18) followed quickly back by Terry Hunte and John Trewenneck, both dispatched for ducks.

Professional Graeme Aldridge and young Oliver Killiner did admirable work to repair the damage with a fifth-wicket stand of 58.

When Aldridge was out for 23, it brought Yasin to the crease and he injected further momentum with Killiner, who went on to make 38.

The lower-order batsmen followed the example with Ben Simm (14) and Chris Miller (19 not out) contributing to help Kendal reach a competent 216 all out off their 45 overs.

Disciplined bowling never allowed Stretford to attack the target in reply and they lost wickets regularly, with Aldridge producing terrific pace and Stuart Parkin and Kevin Howarth bowling very tightly.

Ben Simm was the pick of the bowlers, with 3-10 with Parkin (2-23) and Howarth (3-29) sharing the spoils, while Aldridge sent down six overs for one wicket for a meagre 14 runs. Stretford were dismissed for 90 in the 27th over and Kendal now face an away tie at Palace Shield side Carus Vernon, near Penwortham, Preston, on Sunday, June 17.