Kendal Cricket faces St Anne's in close fought match

The Auld Greys were left with a mountain to climb after being bowled out for 105 where Chris Miller top scored with 50 off 119 balls.

CRICKET: Richard Dakin

However, Matthew Park and Chris Miller dragged Kendal back into the game during the second innings after St Anne’s toiled as they slumped onto 105-9 in the 40th over before Curtis Fletcher scored the winning run as Kendal fell agonisingly close as St Anne’s finished on 106-9 off 40.4 overs.

Kendal who won the toss and elected to bat made a disastrous start where they slumped onto 8-3 after Darren Nightingale was bowled by Harry Birkman before Harry Lee and Chalana Da Silva both fell to Mitch Bolus.

The Auld Greys continued to toil after Curtis Fletcher trapped Tom Aspinwall LBW, before Kendal fell even further behind after losing a cluster of quick wickets as they collapsed from 35-4 to 54-7.

Joseph Dodds the next wicket to fall after he picked out Alex Bradley off the bowling of Thomas Bradley while Curtis Fletcher bowled Billy Price with Thomas Bradley bowling Freddie Price.

Chris Miller and Richard Dakin attempted to rebuild the innings after they both dug in with Kendal looking to regain some control.

SPORT: Chris Miller with bat and ball (Picture and article Richard Edmondson)

However, despite the best efforts from both players, St Anne’s seized control when Harry Birkman picked up the wickets of both Chris Miller and Richard Dakin with Miller departing for a top scoring knock of 50.

And Kendal’s innings ended with Birkman taking his fourth wicket after seeing off Matthew Park with Kendal all out for 105 off 40.5 overs.

The Auld Greys made a stunning start to the second innings after St Anne’s were reduced to 30-4.

Tom Aspinwall broke through in the opening overs after he bowled Andy Drake, while Chris Miller saw off Alex Bradley who was caught behind by Richard Dakin.

And when Aspinwall ran out Gurman Baines and picked up the wicket of Tom Higson Kendal were in with a chance of victory.

KENDAL: Chris Miller with bat and ball (Picture and article Richard Edmondson)

St Annes restored some control mainly thanks to the batting of Nathan Bolus who top scored with 28 off 58 balls.

However, in this dramatic game, Kendal made the critical breakthrough after Matthew Park saw off Bolus who was caught behind by Dakin.

Kendal buoyed by the dismissal gained further control when Chris Miller saw off both Luke Jardine and Mitch Bolus, with Dakin having a good afternoon behind the wickets as he claimed his third catch.

St Annes who edged the score onto 105 lost another wicket with Matthew Park seeing off Birkman who was caught by Dakin, leaving the hosts under extreme pressure needed 1 run to win, however to Kendals dismay Curtis Fletcher scored the 1 run required as Kendal crashed to defeat.

Kendal host Garstang on Saturday.