CHURCH will play Ramsbottom in the final of the President’s Cup when the Lancashire League with a difference concludes on Sunday.

The league’s two form teams will meet at West End in what promises to be a fascinating showdown.

With the regular season shelved due to coronavirus, all 23 teams were split in to four groups with the winner of each progressing to the semi-finals.

Church and Ramsbottom won their respective T20 competitions and Church go in to the final as the only unbeaten team in the league thanks to a thrilling victory over 2018 league champions Walsden.

Batting first, Church, who topped Group Two, posted 145-8 in the reduced 36 overs-a-side match.

Kelan Florentine top scored with 52 with Phil Gilrane (25), Stuart Crabtree (21) and Craig Fergusson (17) all contributing.

Jamie Shackleton (3-21) was the pick of the Walsden bowlers.

In reply, some excellent bowling kept Group Three winners Walsden in check but the drama went right down to the last ball when the visitors were bowled out for 140.

Florentine followed up his heroics with the bat by taking 2-13 with captain Levi Wolfenden claiming 2-6 and Josh Dentith 3-25.

Josh Gale top scored with 46 for Walsden.

Ramsbottom, who topped Group One, beat Clitheroe with captain and professional Daryn Smit and Kieren Grimshaw both scoring half centuries.

After losing opener JJ Fielding for a duck, Grimshaw – regarded as one of the best amateurs in the league – came to the crease and along with Simon Hanson (25) began to build a decent innings.

When Hanson departed, Grimshaw (63) and Smit (60no) put together a match-winning 73-run partnership.

Grimshaw hit eight fours and a six and Smit found the boundary seven times – six fours and a six – as Rammy closed on 176-3.

Smit and Grimshaw then did the damage with the ball – taking 3-10 and 2-11 respectively – as Clitheroe were bowled out for 127.

Sub professional Josh Cobb (42) and Ali Ross (39) had put Clitheroe in contention but once they had departed, Cobb to Smit and Ross to Grimshaw, Ramsbottom took control.

Captain Peter Dibb, with 18, was the only other Clitheroe player to reach double figures.

Elsewhere, Burnley lifted the NHS T20 Trophy after beating Ramsbottom.

Batting first at Acre Bottom, Burnley scored 104-9. In reply, the home side closed their innings on 98-8.