IT WAS a case of third time lucky for Colne as they reached their first Lancashire League Worsley Cup final for 29 years.

Their semi-final against holders Haslingden finally went ahead after two wash-outs and when Colne lost their first three wickets for eight runs they doubtless wished rain would intervene again.

However, professional Joe Scuderi's defiant 67 guided them to 132 and provided the platform for Glyn Sedman to destroy Haslingden's middle order with five for 12 from 10 overs as Colne won by 21 runs. They now meet East Lancashire in the final.

The Durham Academy lead the way in the Durham Senior League, Gary Pratt (97) and former England Under-15 captain Chris Hewison leading them to an eight-wicket win over Sunderland, and their Yorkshire counterparts scored a welcome success against Cleethorpes in the Yorkshire League.

Leaders York, bolstered by a fine all-round performance from Ray Atkinson, strengthened their chances of a first championship since 1968 with a three-wicket win over second-paced Castleford.

Liverpool Competition pacemakers Bootle slumped to another defeat against new leaders Leigh, for whom Kane Kersnovske, with 95 not out, and David Dove, 73 not out, shared an unbroken first wicket stand of 176. Kersnovske, an Australian, has scored 359 runs and been dismissed only once in his last four innings.

Delph easily won the battle of the top two in the Saddleworth League, Pierre Joubert taking five for 58 and Richard Heaton hitting 83 as Hollinwood were beaten by seven wickets, while in the Ribblesdale League, Daniel Cheeseborough hammered 112, sharing an opening stand of 189 with John Whittle, as Great Harwood defeated champions Cherry Tree by 87 runs.

And in the Manchester Association, Mohammed Iqbal, returning after a three-year absence, scored his second century in a week as Monton displaced leaders Wythenshawe with a 113-run win.