THERE was to be no dramatic reversal of fortune for Barnoldswick as they resumed their rain-interrupted innings against derby rivals Earby in the Ramsbottom Cup semi-final.

Facing a daunting target of 222, there was immediate trouble for Barlick when they took up the task on 73-3 on Sunday.

A big innings was required from Michael Scothern and Matt Plant but, without a run being added to the total, Earby made the breakthrough and Scothern was back in the pavilion.

Things soon got much worse as M Nutter and Sid Sheraz soon followed with only three extra runs on the board.

Indeed, at 76-6, Barlick were facing humiliation but it needed some gritty batting from David Scothern and Ali Khan to bring an air of respectability to the cause.

The pair were involved in a stand of 74 for the eighth wicket before Scothern was finally caught by Tilbury for 35 with the score on 166.

The rest of the tail failed to delay proceedings, with Khan last man out for 36 with the score on 168.

Chief destroyer for Earby was Glyn Sedman, whose five wickets came at a cost of 42 runs.

Now Earby face Great Harwood in the final at Clitheroe on August 19 (a change to the date in the handbook) and the two clashed on Saturday in a rehearsal for the cup.

It was Great Harwood who delivered the psychological blow with a six wicket victory, a result which all but ends Earby's title hopes.

After winning the toss, Earby simply failed to capitalise and while plenty of batsmen made good starts, no-one went on to make a critical innings and they were all out for 165.

Spinner Paul Newton provided the main threat with three stumpings to his name in figures of 41 for five.

Earby might have had hopes of defending their lowish total when they had Great Harwood in some difficulties at 54 for three but Paul Cheesbrough and Cameron McKay found the bowling to their liking. Cheesbrough was finally bowled by Alex Scholefield for 64 five runs short of the target but McKay knocked off the runs to finish on 46 not out.

Rain prevented a conclusion to the play at Settle, but visitors Blackburn Northern picked up the points on a faster run rate.

It looked ominous for Settle when they slumped to 56-7 but an unbeaten eighth wicket stand of 86 between Tim Green (36no) and Andrew Davidson (48no) ensured some degree of respectability as they closed on 142-7.

There was hope for Settle when Blackburn were 64-3 before one of those incidents which puzzle spectators and will be a talking point for some time.

A clear catch was taken behind the wicket and the Northern batsman set off towards the pavilion, only for Northern professional Ata-ur-Rehman to call him back, saying he had not been given out. The appeal went to the umpire, who failed to take the somewhat obvious hint and ruled not out - another nail in the coffin for cricket's 'walking' tradition.

From then on Northern were able to put themselves in a strong position so that when rain came they were deemed victors.

Barnoldswick were denied of the full seven points when they had Clitheroe rocking at 96-6 chasing 187 before rain came.

Ian Scothern's 68 was the basis of Barlick's score and Sid Sheraz hit 27 with Mike Scothern hitting 20 off 14 balls at the end.

Clitheroe pro Dexter Fitton looked to be in ominous form until he was lured forward by Mike Scothern and caught plumb lbw for a vital breakthrough.

With Paul Beech and Raj in good bowling form, the heart had gone from Clitheroe's attack and they were well behind the run rate when rain intervened.