COLNE set up a repeat of last season's Worsley Cup semi-final clash with Haslingden as they hammered Lowerhouse by 203-runs at the Horsfield.

A week earlier Colne had scraped to a one-wicket league win over Lowerhouse.

But this time it was no contest as Gary Laycock's side set the visitors an imposing victory target of 251 and then immediately wrecked their chances by reducing them to 15-4.

Gary Hunt set the tone for Colne as he blazed away at the top of the order after the home side had been put into bat.

Andy Leah made just one out of an opening partnership of 34 and Hunt had reached 30 by the time he was out from the first ball of the sixth over.

However, there was little respite for Lowerhouse as professional Joe Scuderi took centre stage to guide his side to an impregnable position.

Scuderi, who scored 98 in the win over Burnley in round one, shared a fourth-wicket partnersip of 106 with Andy Roberts and had taken the score to 167 when he fell five short of a century to one of four Nicky Hope catches, his 95 containing 12 fours and two sixes. Roberts went on to make 50 from 76 balls with six fours and a six.

Nick Moulding and Kevin Cullen then took the new ball for Colne and clinched the victory with three wickets apiece. Moulding grabbed 3-9 off seven overs, which included six wides, while Cullen claimed 3-23 as Lowerhouse were shot out for just 47.

Haslingden, winners in 1997, reached the last four with a comprehensive six-wicket win over league champions Nelson.

Nelson were dismissed for 154 as several batsman got started but none went on to make a significant score as Andrew Sidley took the top order apart with figures of 4-38.

And off-spinner Barry Knowles then picked up three wickets in less than three overs to mop up the tail, despite the efforts of Trevor Kegg who helped eke out 52 runs for the last three wickets.

Any chance Nelson may have had disappeared with five dropped catches as Knowles and Mike Ingham gave Haslingden the perfect start with a stand of 46. Professional Brad McNamara then top-scored with a patient 39, adding 62 with Paul Blackledge, who opened up to reach 33 after taking 37 minutes to get of the mark.

Both fell with the score on 134 but Mark Griffin and skipper Stuart Taylor completed the victory with no further scares with seven overs to spare.

Holders East Lancs cruised into the last four with a comfortable 30-run victory over a resurgent Accrington.

Skipper Phil Mercer won the toss and opted to bat and that looked a good decision as the home side posted a formidable total of 183-7. Phil Bolton (34) and Chris Riley (30) laid the foundations with a stand of 44 for the second wicket.

And South African professional Claude Henderson ensured that early momentum wasn't lost by chipping in with a useful 21 before he was run out.

It was then left to Paul Turner to carry the attack with a polished 35 before he fell to Kaz Shazad, who was the pick of the visiting bowlers with 3-41.

Accrington were always in with a shout in their run-chase as long as professional Mark Bailey was at the wicket.

The Kiwi came to the crease at 10-1 and he didn't depart until Accrington were 139-7, smashing 75 off 118 balls.

But once he'd gone, East Lancs mopped up the last three wickets for the addition of just 14 more runs as the visitors were ousted for 153, Nassir Iqbal finishing up with 3-21.

There was no play between Todmorden and Enfield at Centre Vale and that game will now be replayed on Saturday.

Draw for the Worsley Cup semi-finals: East Lancs v Todmorden or Enfield, Colne v Haslingden.

Draw for the Second XI League Cup: Ramsbottom or Nelson v Church, Burnley v Rawtenstall.

Holders East Lancs have been drawn away at Middleton in the quarter finals of the Inter-League Challenge Trophy.

The full draw is: Middleton v East Lancs, Nelson v Rochdale, Crompton v Accrington and Haslingden v Lowerhouse.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.