ON A FRUSTRATING afternoon at Shap Road, Kendal battled bravely but ultimately slipped to a 40 run Northern League defeat defeat at the hands of leaders Leyland.
David Batty top scored with 40 in a valiant attempt by the home side to build on last week’s superb win at Chorley and chase down a challenging 171 victory target, but a late batting collapse against a powerful visiting attack ended their hopes.
In sultry conditions, skipper Chris Miller lost the toss but after Leyland elected to bat, opening pair Henry Thompson and Karl Cross struggled to make headway as they were tied down by some accurate home bowling.
However, they remained patient and eventually posted a first wicket stand of 46 before Cross was caught behind by Richard Dakin off the bowling of former Windermere player Matthew Park.
Kendal were energised by the dismissal applied further pressure on the league leaders when Saif Badar fell to a superb catch by Ben Phillips off the bowling of Miller before Thompson was caught by Park off professional Wes Marshall.
Marshall then bowled Nathan Mc Donnell to leave Leyland under significant pressure on 91-4.
However, Kurtis Watson and Ross Bretherton began to frustrate Kendal with what turned out to be a crucial fifth wicket stand of 71.

Toby Tyson finally dismissed Bretherton who was caught by Phillips, but Watson marched on to an undefeated 63 which saw the visitors close on a respectable 171-5.
When the Shap Road men began their reply, Marshall and Saeed Bariwala struggled against the bowling attack of Cross and Bretherton but dug in for a determined first wicket stand of 28.
The partnership was broken when Cross clean bowled Bariwala, and Kendal were rocked again when Bretherton bowled Marshall after the South African had made a painstaking10 off 41 balls.
But all was not lost and David Batty made the most of his call up from the second team as he and Ben Phillips launched a spirited counter attack.
However, once Watson ran out Phillips, Leyland began to rip through the hosts with Badar trapping both Miller and Oliver Tyson lbw.
Batty fought on but when he was caught near the boundary by Thompson off Badar’s delivery, it signalled the end of any realistic victory hopes.
Dakin was stumped by his opposite number Alex Williams off Thompson, who went on to pick up his second wicket when he saw off Toby Tyson. 
And Badar finished the game off when the Indian professional dismissed Ryan Nightingale and Joseph Dodds to leave Kendal all out for 131.
Miller’s men must now pick themselves up for next Saturday when they travel down to Stanley Park to face Blackpool in what is a tough looking Northern League clash.
And Kendal’s 2nd XI fared no better than the first team as they slipped to second bottom in Division One B of the Palace Shield after a 68 run defeat at Leyland’s Fox Lane home.
The hosts posted an imposing 178-9 off 45 overs despite the efforts of Andrew Dugdale who weighed in with figures of 4-33.
But in reply, Kendal could only muster 110 all out despite a battling innings of 41 from Shane Hyland.
Leyland’s Michael Birchall was the star man for the hosts, returning figures of 6-15.
However on Sunday, the 2nds had better luck as they picked up another win in the Palace Shield Twenty-20, defeating Longridge by 15 runs at Shap Road.
The second hope to add to this success when they entertain Vernon Carus ‘s second XI on Saturday, 1.30pm start.