TEN-MAN Radcliffe crashed out of the Wood Cup as their marathon match against Unsworth finally reached a conclusion on Tuesday night at Pole Lane.

The inclement weather, allied to the problems Unsworth have been having with the drainage at their new ground alongside the M66, combined to drag out this quarter-final clash for the best part of three weeks, starting on June 2 and finishing on June 18.

In the end, Unsworth triumphed by 20 runs after Radcliffe were forced to complete the game with only ten men.

Stuart Kelley was the missing ingredient, having gone away on holiday, and as he bowled in the first innings on the opening day, the league rules did not allow Radcliffe to bring in a replacement.

In that first innings, Unsworth captain Paul Entwistle and overseas amateur Nathan Webb put on 56 runs, which was by far the biggest stand of the game.

Useful contributions followed from professional Pasan Wanasinghe, Paul and Mark Manley and Saeed.

The extras totalled 17 and it was not a very inspiring total to defend. Holt bowled well for Radcliffe, taking four wickets for 22runs off his 10 overs.

When Radcliffe came in to bat, professional Steve Dearden was the only man to bat with any conviction. He battled away for 37 runs and deservedly won the Man of the Match award, which was presented by former Central Lancashire League President, John Schofield.

Only two other Radcliffe batsmen reacehed double figures as Gary Levy bowled splendidly with three for 27 to take Unsworth's Man of the Match award and Wanasinghe had the excellent figures of 10 overs, five maidens, seven runs and one wicket -- economy indeed!

Radcliffe were bowled out for 121, including 39 extras after the Unsworth bowlers contrived to bowl 25 wides and eight no balls -- a horrendous total that will be far too careless and generous if it is repeated in the semi-final at Rochdale a week on Sunday.

WOOD CUP

Semi-final

Unsworth v Radcliffe

Unsworth

P Entwistle c Shah b Holt...34

N Webb b Shah...23

P Wanasinghe run out...16

A Saeed st Macauley b Holt...10

P Manley c Macauley b Holt...12

G Jones b Holt...0

M Manley c McLean b Kennedy...20

S Barlow lbw Kennedy...1

A Howarth not out...4

M Sohail not out...2

Extras...17

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Total (for 8)...139

---

50 overs

J McClean 4-0-27-0; S Shah 10-2-21-1; S Dearden 6-0-13-0; N Kennedy 10-1-21-2; S Holt 10-3-22-4; S Kelley 10-0-30-0.

Radcliffe

T Birt c Barlow B Levy...15

D Keegan lbw Howarth...6

G Simpson b Wanasinghe...0

R Heaton b Levy...11

S Dearden b Sohail...37

N Kennedy b Webb...4

J Macauley b Levy...7

S Holt c Barlow b Saeed...0

J McClean b Webb...0

S Shah not out...2

Extras...39

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Total...121

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44.4 overs

A Howarth 10-2-26-1; G Levy 10-3-27-3; P Wanansinghe 10-5-7-1; A Saeed 10-1-34-1; N Webb 2.4-0-15-2; M Sohail 2-0-6-1.