Malan returns to halt 1sts Progress

Kendal sub-pro Pieter Malan's return to Lune Road brought a body blow to Lancaster's title chances on Saturday. The tall South African tore out the hosts' top order, delighting Kendal's travelling support with his haul of 6 for 16 from 13 overs before the Cumbrians made light work of chasing just 67 to win.

After losing the loss, Lancaster's batting effort started badly and didn't get much better thereafter. Charlie Swarbrick was LBW to the first ball of the game, playing across the line to a full and straight Malan delivery to give Kendal first blood. Jamie Heywood's return from an ankle injury wasn't a happy one, despite getting off the mark with a well timed cover drive, Adam Cowperthwaite replied with a terrific ball that nipped between bat and pad to clip the off bail.

At 8 for 2 young Billy Swarbrick was given the tough task of weathering the new ball storm at number 4. A Malan in-swinger proved too much for the younger Swarbrick however as he joined his brother in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Alex Metcalfe dug in at the other end as the in-form Jannisar Khan entered. Both struggled through the next ten overs, Cowperthwaite beating both edges of Jannisar's bat, while Malan's swingers kept Metcalfe tentative as to the whereabouts of his off stump.

This brief recovery was ended by Malan, who picked up the prize wicket of his opposite number when another late in-swinger defeated Jannisar's defences. Metcalfe's resistance was ended soon after, as Malan struck again finding the edge of a groping prod with Lancaster crumbling at 25 for 5.

The former Barrow pro, known more for his breaking of batting records than his bowling, continued to tear through Lancaster's middle order. Danny Welbourne became Malan's fifth scalp of the afternoon and the third to be bowled when his middle stump was relocated after another loose stroke.

A paltry 30 for 6 became a dire 40 for 8 when Kieran Moffat top edged a hack at Chris Miller to Cowperthwaite before Sam Moorby, one of the few batsmen who looked assured at the crease, ran himself out in comical fashion after a fine stop by Oliver Field at extra cover.

The lower order tried their best to salvage some dignity. Ben Simm thrashed a quickfire 20 to take Lancaster past 50 before he joined most of his team in falling to Malan. Liam Moffat was the last man to go, caught at slip off Miller for 9, the third highest score of the innings as Lancaster recorded their worst score of the year, 66 all out.

While the pitch was offering assistance to the new ball bowlers, defending 66 was always going to be a tall order for the Lancaster attack. It proved to be so, as, despite top drawer deliveries from Jannisar and Liam Moffat to remove Darren Moore and Pieter Malan respectively, Ryan Nelson and veteran Terry Hunte took Kendal to within ten of their target.

Nelson couldn't quite see his side over the line, as he played over the top of a ball from Ben Simm with 6 needed for victory before Darren Braithwaite gave Moffat a consolation wicket with one to win. Hunte was there at the end, unbeaten on 39 and 10 runs short of 20 thousand league runs as Lancaster were left to rue a poor batting performance.