KENDAL made a welcome return to winning ways after beating league whipping boys Preston to end their seven week wait for victory.

It was the Shap Road club's first win since beating St Annes on June 6 and it keeps them above the Fylde Coast side who picked up a surprise victory at Netherfield.

Kendal, who defeated Preston in May, were looking to complete a league double over the bottom of the table team and won the toss and elected to bat.

Preston have lost 16 of their 17 fixtures with just one losing draw to their name but they would have earmarked this match as a possible chance to break their dismal run of results.

And they got off to the perfect start when Darren Braithwaite was bowled by Shabnan Ali without scoring.

Saeed Bariwala, making a first return to his former club since joining Kendal in the summer, made sure there was to be no immediate panic as he and Paul Dodds began to build a foundation to build on.

Bariwala got to a swift 22 before he was bowled by Afzal Kapadia.

Professional Eldred Hawken came to the crease but he departed soon after, scoring just three before he became Ali's second victim.

But Dodds and Shane Hyland kept the scoreboard ticking over, both making significant contributions in what proved to be a match-winning innings by Kendal.

Dodds departed six runs short of a half century, bowled by Mohmedrafik Patel for 44, before Patel then trapped Oliver Field for nine.

Kendal were on 120-5 and, judging from previous experience, the innings could have gone either way - an all too familiar collapse or push on for a decent total.

Thankfully, Hyland was in the mood and got some welcome support from captain Chris Miller and Richard Herron.

Hyland top scored with 63 before he was run out but impressive cameos from Miller and Herron - who both scored 24 - kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Miller was trapped lbw by Omar Sabir and Herron was caught by Paul Masterson off Patel.

Lewis Richardson added 14 before he was also caught by Masterson off Patel while Stu Parkin was unbeaten on eight as Kendal were dismissed for 232.

Preston's batting frailties were highlighted from the off, Hawken ripping through the top order while Miller - who picked up his second 'five-for' of the season - cleaning up the middle order.

Ali was trapped lbw by Hawken for a duck while fellow opener Sajid Patel was caught and bowled by Miller for 10.

South African Hawken claim the wickets of Gurman Bains, caught by Bariwala, for six then bowled Miya Lunat for seven.

Miller then got in on the act, taking three wickets for three runs; Shah trapped lbw for one, Mustaq Tailor caught by Hawken for two and Patel caught by Joseph Dodds for a duck.

Omen Sabir delayed the inevitable with a quick 29 while Afzal Kapadia was unbeaten on 15. But Dodds ended Sabir's stint and also claimed the wicket of Masteron while Miller picked up his fifth wicket when he bowled Ayub Ahmed for two.