CHERRY Tree will play Ribblesdale Wanderers in the Vaux Ramsbottom Cup final after a magnificent unbeaten 58 from Lee Kennedy steered the league leaders to a hard-earned semi-final victory over Edenfield.

The Blackburn club's professional, Naeem Ashraf picked up three early wickets to leave Edenfield floundering on 23-4.

But a battling 67 from Michael Hawke helped Edenfield to a total of 147.

Ther home side were struggling on 67-5 before Kennedy took control, reaching his half-century with a straight six.

In the other semi, Gurinder Singh led Ribblesdale Wanderers to victory over Barnoldswick in the second semi final with a superb century.

He scored 112 as they set the victory Park club a target of 233-8.

Michael Lord scored 51 and David Scothern 53, but they rarely looked like putting the Ribblesdale total under pressure. The final will be played on July 27.

Cherry Tree continue to hold on to top spot in the league after demolishing Earby's usually solid batting line up.

Ashraf collected four wickets and Hughes three as the Applegarth club toppled to 98 all out. Cherry Tree clinched a comfortable nine wicket win with Gary Bolton (40), David Hayes (32no) and Ashraf (21no). Clitheroe professional Jonathan Fielding kept his side's chase alive with a superb all round performance against Blackburn Northern.

He scored 77 with the bat and took 5-59. Nigel weaver captured six Clitheroe wickets as they scored 197-9, but it was too much for Northern who were dismissed for 118.

Great Harwood let their ambitions slip, going down to a three wicket defeat by Padiham despite an innings of 78 from Scott Pearce. Phil Metcalfe saw the Arbories side to victory, carrying his bat through the innings for 78 not out.

Barnoldswick snatched a two run victory over Baxenden with professional Bruce Hara scoring 50 as the Victory Park outfit struggled to 154 all out.

David Usher did most of the damage with 6-57. Usher then scored 102 not out for Baxenden, but it was not enough as they were dismissed for 152 with Justin Manville taking 6-49. Oswaldtwistle Immanuel were shot out for 60 by Ribblesdale Wanderers with Rudra Singh taking 6-33 and David Howard 4-25. Ribblesdale made certain of a comfortable nine wicket win.

Read also cruised to a nine wicket win over Settle who were restricted to 109-9 with Malcolm Heyworth taking 5-43.

Whalley could only reach 104-9 against Edenfield who rattled off the winning runs with four wickets down.

Results: Ramsbottom Cup: Cherry Tree 148-7, Edenfield 147; Ribblesdale Wanderers 233-8, Barnoldswick 185-9.

League: Baxenden 152 (2pts), Barnoldswick 154 (7); Blackburn Northern 118, Clitheroe 197-9 (7); Cherry Tree 100-1 (7), Earby 98; Padiham 176-7 (5), Gt Harwood 173-8; Ribblesdale Wanderers 61-1 (7), Oswaldtwistle Immanuel 60; Settle 109-9, Read 110-1 (5); Whalley 104-9, Edenfield 106-3 (5).

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