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Cherry Tree remain on course for a third successive Ramsbottom Cup win after a thrilling semi-final victory over Whalley.

The holders play Ribblesdale Wanderers in the final after their own dramatic turnaround against Padiham.

Whalley pushed Cherry Tree all the way in a game that finished at 9.37pm.

Having looked down and out on 47-6 on a difficult drying track, former pro Jason Smith and David Redhead, playing his first game for two years, staged a stunning fightback.

Then wicketkeeper David Westwood helped Smith take the total on to 147-9, just five runs short of the 152 target.

But two wickets in a dramatic last over from Roger Davies, including the key scalp of Smith for 55, saw the home side scrape home by three runs with two balls remaining.

Earlier, Nigel Robbins had top scored for the home side with 63 as heavy showers made the track increasingly lively with Whalley skipper Mark Fallon taking 4-28.

The second semi-final also continued late into the evening.

Ribblesdale set a target of 165-9 with Howard top scoring on 42. He also took four wickets as Padiham were dismissed for 140 following a bright start to their innings.

Mark Harvey and John Hartley both scored 37 before the rot set in.

Wanderers professonal Shaheed Nawaz was in the runs in the league with 131 not out as Wanderers set a 214-6 target for Earby to chase. They were left hanging on with nine wickets down as Graham Monk took 6-37 and Wanderers stole a march on the leading pack, who were all rain-affected. Applegarth professional John Harvey scored 59.

John Kershaw led a scoring spree with 126 not out for Edenfield with Pat Taylor (62) batting him up in their total of 225-3.

Barnoldswick pushed them all the way and reached 217-9 with Michael Scothern 56 not out. The Edenfield professional Michael Smethurst took five wickets at a cost of 107 runs.

Padiham beat Clitheroe who were bowled out for 115 with professional Benjamin just missing out on his half century with 46.

Tim Green scored 77 for Settle in their rain-affected game with Baxenden and the Great Harwood versus Read game also failed to get a result. Matthew Cheesbrough and Paul Houldsworth both scored half centuries as Harwood reached 173-5. Read were on 91-3 when the rain came.

Blackburn Northern reached 89-9 and Oswaldtwistle Immanuel took the honours as Roger Watson scored 44 not out in their eight-wicket win.

Cherry Tree were 140-8 in their innings with Whalley chasing on 82-3 when the match was abandoned.