DAVID Brown produced a batting masterclass as history-chasing Burnley beat town rivals Lowerhouse to reach another Foster’s Worsley Cup final.

The holders are aiming to become the first club in the competition’s 96-year history to lift the old trophy in three successive seasons - and it was a brilliant unbeaten 91 from the former Gloucestershire and Glamorgan batsman that has put them in with a shout when they face Nelson on Sunday, August 9, a repeat of the 2006 final.

MORE TOP STORIES:

It was a highly-anticipated showdown at the Neville Gee Recruitment Ground between the two sides who have been the dominate force in both the league and cup in recent years.

Lowerhouse, reigning league champions and title winners three of the last four seasons against cross town rivals Burnley, winners of the Worsley Cup in both 2013 and 2014.

With Lowerhouse also winning the cup in 2012, Ramsbottom, in 2011, were the last team to take the silverware out of the town.

But there was more than town bragging rights at stake.

Batting first in front of a partisan home crowd, Lowerhouse reached 180-7 from their allotted 50 overs.

But Burnley made breakthroughs with it mattered most as Lowerhouse was enable to form any long lasting and potential matching winning partnerships - 43 between professional Cobus Pienaar and Matt Walker and a late 41-run stand between Chris Bleazard and Declan Bailey was as good as it got.

Jonathan Clare accounted for Jonny Whitehead (9) and Cole Hayman dismissed Fergus Bailey (16) and Lowerhouse were on 45-2. Captain Charlie Cottam was trapped lbw by Burnley professional Chris Holt for 22 before Pienaar and Walker put together a decent stand.

When Pienaar went for 28 and Walker was run out for 29 thanks to an excellent direct hit, Lowerhouse needed runs from some where and Bleazard delivered with a quick fire unbeaten 31 to give the home side at least something to defend.

In reply, Burnley reached 33 before Holt was dismissed by Walker for 26 but that just brought the excellent Brown to the crease.

Brown and Vishal Tripathi hurried the total along, before Dominic Stuart claimed the wicket of Tripathi for 28.

Clare, who rewrote the record books in the quarter finals against Ramsbottom when he scored 199 - the highest by an amateur batsman in the competition - could only manage seven this time around.

But at 120-3 there was not cause for concern as Burnley had wickets and overs in hand.

And it was the brilliant Brown who guided them home - accompanied by Chris Burton (19 not out) - as Burnley reached another final.

Nelson charged into their 15th final as they demolished Accrington in the most one-sided of semi-finals, starting their party at a shade after 4pm.

From the moment Matt Wilson was pinned leg before by Richard Meade for a duck with just four on the board Nelson never looked back and when Saturday hero Graeme Sneddon became Meade’s second victim for 10 it was one sided.

Meade then bowled Jacob Clarke to make it 20-3 before Sam Halstead struck the vital blow to have Ockert Erasmus caught by Russ Bradley for a duck and it was 22-4.

Accrington were in tatters – but it was to get worse as Ali Hasham was bowled by Halstead before Stuart Crabtree became Meade’s fourth victim and the score was 24-6 and the Seedhill quick had figures of 4-16.

Accy rallied briefly as Jon Hayhurst (11) and Keiren Grimshaw (10) took the score to 45 before sub-pro Qaiser Abbas (4-8) put his mark on the semi-final.

He removed Grimshaw and Jon Hayhurst before mopping up Ramiz Hussain and David Ormerod as Accrington subsided to 51 all out.

Brothers Lewis and Russell Bradley put on a breezy 19 before the former went for 12.

The younger Bradley fell for 26 but with Harrison Phelan making an unbeaten 11 and Abbas three not out, Nelson eased home.