Darwen dug in for a hard-earned draw to deny Kendal their second successive 15-point win.

Kevin Howarth’s 125 off 150 balls had provided the cornerstone of the home side’s 216 for 5 at Shap Road. Dismissed off the penultimate ball of the last over by Darwen’s South African professional David Wiese, Howarth hit 16 fours and two sixes and put on 98 for the third wicket with pro Ross MacMillan (42).

But Kamran Anwar and Jordan Clarke then put on 40 in 17 overs for the seventh wicket and Yakub Bhamji and Stuart Hampson 21 in eight overs for the ninth wicket as Darwen claimed an honourable draw with last pair Bhamji and captain Andrew Cook defying the home side.