KENDAL have recruited seasoned batsman Phil Thornton, formerly of Morecambe, and he hit a top-scoring 80 on his debut in an 111-run victory over Chorley on Saturday, Preferring to bat when the toss favoured them, Kendal lost Ikram Ullah early on, but produced three weighty partnerships to enable them to declare at 256-6 after 45 overs.

All-rounder Kevin Howarth took a lot of the credit with his robust 62 as he shared stands of 51 and 60 with Terry Hunte and Thornton respectively.

When Hunte departed after stroking five fours in his 24, Kiwi professional Graeme Aldridge (54 not out) sensibly played the foil to the hard- hitting Thornton. The pair enjoyed a fourth-wicket partnership of 81 that took the score from 116-3 to 197.

By the time Thornton was fourth man out, he had hit eight sixes and seven fours in his 80 off 54 balls.

Chorley had started with 10 men because opening bowler Bill Smith did not arrive until the 16th over.

Under the rules he had to wait the same number of overs before he could bowl and was never used.

Kendal and Chorley started level on league points, but the visitors' superiority showed on the field.

Off-spinner Ben Simm grabbed his chance to shine with 5-30 off 15.3 overs that included five maidens.

Take A. Holdsworth's innings of 73 out of the Chorley effort and it made sorry reading.

Kendal's other spinner Chris Miller struck twice in three balls to reduce them to 51-3 before the bemused Holdsworth, who had been elevated from the tail to bat at No. 3, gave them respectability. He, too, fell in turn to Simm, one of three victims to fall for four runs before Chorley declined to 145 all out in the 49th of a scheduled 55 overs.