CHERRY TREE reached the semi-final of the Jennings Ramsbottom Cup after a nail-biting finish to their game against Ribblesdale Wanderers yesterday.

The Blackburn club set a target of 158 with professional Naeem Ashraf scoring 39 and Lee Kennedy adding 42, but Ribblesdale pushed them all the way.

Going into the last over they had everything to play for but needed a four off the final delivery of the game to win and just missed out. They ended on 155-9 with David Gardner-Chan leading scorer on 35 not out.

Clitheroe also scraped home against Barnoldswick who struggled to 102 on a damp wicket. Clitheroe won by three wickets with just over to spare with Steve Whalley top scoring on 28.

It was even closer in a low scoring game at Settle. The home side looked to be firmly in command after dismissing Padiham for 55 with Paul Ridgeway taking five wickets for 12 runs.

The Dales club were then left biting their nails as they collapsed and were hanging on at 56-9 when they reached victory.

The game between Great Harwood and Read is to be played next weekend.

It was also a good weekend for Cherry Tree in the league as they took over at the top of the table. Again it was professional Ashraf who led the way with a knock of 55 as they beat Ribblesdale Wanderers by seven wickets. Terry Braithwaite had earlier scored 31 not out as Wanderers set a target of 120-8.

Barnoldswick saw their hold on top spot slip away despite a half century from Ian Scothern and an innings of 70 from professional Clinton Peake in their total of 158-5. Read won by six wickets with two overs to spare.

Clitheroe defeated Earby who were dismissed for 99 chasing Clitheroe's target of 153-6. Dexter Fitton scored 77 not out for the home side.

There was no play in the games between Baxenden and Edenfield, Blackburn Northern and Oswaldtwistle and Great Harwood and Padiham.

RESULTS: Baxenden v Edenfield (abandoned); Blackburn N v Oswaldtwistle Imm (aban); Cherry Tree 121-3 (5) Ribblesdale Wdrs 120-8 (0); Clitheroe 153-6 (7) Earby 99 (0); Great Harwood v Padiham (match aban); Read 159-4 (5) Barnoldswick 158-5 (0); Whalley 85 (0) Settle 87-6 (7).

Ramsbottom Cup second round: CherryTree 158 Ribblesdale W 155-9; Barnoldswick 102 Clitheroe 103-7; Settle 56-9 Padiham 55.

LCA Knockout comp: Denton 121 Read 123-5.

SENIOR DIVISION

P W L Bp Nr Pts

Cherry Tr... 10 6 2 10 2 44

Barnoldswick... 10 6 2 6 2 40

Earby... 10 6 4 8 0 38

Read... 10 6 2 4 2 38

Clitheroe... 10 5 4 8 1 35

Settle... 10 5 5 8 0 33

Ribblesdale W... 10 4 5 8 1 30

Padiham... 10 3 3 4 4 27

Gt Harwood... 10 4 5 4 1 26

Edenfield... 10 2 4 6 4 24

Blackburn N... 10 3 4 2 3 23

Whalley... 10 3 5 4 2 23

Baxenden... 10 2 4 4 4 22

Oswle Imm... 10 0 6 0 4 8