In a game in which almost 500 runs were scored, St Annes lost to Kendal by four wickets at Vernon Road on Saturday.

St Annes won the toss, batted and made a respectable 246-7 in their 50 overs, but it was not enough as Kendal won with 250-6 with 19 balls remaining.

After the early loss of Adrian Darlington for five, Gareth Evans and Ian Austin put on 114 runs with Austin taking the lead with a string of boundaries.

Evans fell for 41 made from 81 balls with eight fours when Kabir Khan made a fine diving catch at mid-on and St Annes were 119-2. Austin followed at 136-3 after making a sparkling 66 in just 81 balls with 14 boundaries.

Duncan Whalley continued the good work with 41 before he too was bowled by Kabir Khan at 175-4. Russ Bradley made 14 before Ikram Ullah caught him off Dilwar Khan at 189-5, Aiden Cotton made 10, including a six and Joe Davies, 13. Kabir Khan bowled the last two named at 209-6 and 215-7 respectively. It was left to John Musgrave to make a speedy 24 not out and with Dave Taylor two not out St Annes reached 246-7 from their 50 overs. Kabir Khan was the most successful bowled with 3-63.

In reply Kendal got off to a flying start as Ullah and Howarth, St Annes' destroyers in the recent cup game, put on 103 in 70 minutes.

Ullah was the first to go when Evans took a fine catch at extra cover but in came Terry Hunte and he fired away from the first ball. Dropped on 19 at long-on he struck a quick-fire 34 off just 24 balls with four fours and two sixes before he holed out to Musgrave at deep mid-wicket off Evans at 165-2.

St Annes then got back into the game with two further wickets at 169 from Evans and Michael Baer But Kabir Khan put Kendal back on track with six fours in his rapid 27. Despite another wicket by Baer, caught by Austin, Kendal were in no danger of not winning.

Dave Fallows batted sensibly for 23 not out and Damian Gudgeon, who finished the game with a four driven over long-on, was 18 not out when Kendal's victory came at 250-6. T