DARWEN kept pace with early-season leaders Morecambe after a convincing Bank Holiday Monday success over Kendal.

Having seen their Saturday fixture washed out Jordan Clarke’s men collected their second win of the season at Birch Hall on Monday.

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Opener Ammer Mirza hit 35 to underpin the innings but Kendal responded with a flurry of wickets to leave the home side thankful for the exploits of the tail.

Neil Cordingley weighed in with 36 coming in at number eight while Reece Davies, Chris Wade and Niall Burke also made useful contributions with the bat as Darwen reached a defendable 153 all out.

In the end that proved more than enough as a strong bowling performance skittled out the visitors for just 64 inside 30 overs.

Only two away batsman reached double figures with Eldred Hawken top scring with 34.

David Bowden led the way for the home side with 3-11 while Burke and Cordingley completed fine performances with two wickets apiece as Darwen climbed to second in the table, a point behind early leaders Morecambe.

Elsewhere Chorley fell to a five wicket defeat at Blackpool.

The visitors again failed with the bat with only Brenton McDonald passing 20 as the middle order kept Chorley in the contest.

Jack Bentham made an obdurate 17 from 60 balls while Ian Oakes added a quickfire 15 as Darwen were bowled out for 103.

That never looked like being enough despite James Lee carrying on his fine form with the ball.

Having taken five wickets on Saturday he added three more to his tally here but Matthew Houston’s 31 helped Blackpool home.

Chorley sit 10th.