Kendal lose thrilling cricket match by one run to league leaders

Kendal are now just two points clear of relegation after suffering a dramatic one-run defeat at Leyland.

The Auld Greys, despite the defeat, can take positives from the performance against a Leyland team who went top of Northern League Division One.

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Leyland posted a competitive 241 for 9 off 50 overs while Louis Backhouse returned figures of 5-50.

However, Kendal got themselves into contention, recovering from 75-3, where Finlay Richardson top-scored with 70, while James Bowman posted a knock of 51.

Leyland dramatically turned the game in their favour after both Richardson and Bowman were dismissed while Kendal lost wickets in quick succession.

However, Kendal, nine wickets down, edged closer to victory, requiring one run to win on the last ball of the game, before Louis Backhouse picked out Jacob Wright off the bowling of Andrew Jacques as Kendal were bowled out for 240.

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Kendal, who lost the toss and were put into field, dismissed Leyland's top two after Carrington was caught by Brad Earl off the bowling of Louis Backhouse before Chris Miller bowled A Eyre.

Leyland, on 60-2, saw Lloyd Tennant and Sam Oldham push the score on to 144 before Chris Miller broke the partnership after the Kendal captain caught and bowled Tennant for 52 off 72 runs.

Sam Oldham and Jacob Wright added more runs to Leyland's total as they moved on to 197, while Kendal began to pull the game back in their favour after Tom Bentley dismissed Oldham for 63 off 88 after he picked out Max Winskill, before Bentley dismissed Liam Hurt, who fell to a catch by Cole Abrahams.

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Louis Backhouse. (Image: Richard Edmondson)

Louis Backhouse returned figures of 5-50 after taking the wickets of Karl Cross, T Ballantyne, and Andrew Jacques, with Winskill taking the catches of both Cross and Jacques, while Fallows claimed the catch of Ballantyne, with Leyland closing on 241-9.

Kendal initially struggled in reply after faltering on to 75-3, where Liam Hurt dismissed Max Winskill and Darren Nightingale before Ballantyne dismissed Cole Abrahams.

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Winskill was the first wicket to fall after he picked out A McKeever, while Karl Cross claimed the catch of Nightingale.

Abrahams, who played his final games for the club, departed for 16 after falling to a catch by R Carrington.

Finlay Richardson and James Bowman restored control as Kendal found their way back into the game before Sam Oldham bowled Richardson for 70 off 64 balls.

However, James Bowman and Freddie Fallows edged Kendal into contention as the Auld Greys moved on to 205.

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Leyland battled back after Liam Hurt bowled James Bowman for 51 off 73 before Hurt trapped Brad Earl LBW.

Fallows, who scored 37, departed after he was bowled by Sam Oldham, while Kendal were under further pressure when Tom Bentley picked out Ballantyne off the bowling of Andrew Jacques.

As the game remained in the balance, Liam Hurt bowled Chris Miller, returning figures of 5-63, while Kendal, going into the last ball of the game, needed one run to win.

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However, Kendal agonisingly fell one run short after Louis Backhouse was dismissed on the last ball of the game after he picked out Jacob Wright off the bowling of Andrew Jacques, as Kendal fell one run short of victory.

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