OVER the course of the last decade Ian Austin has built up a lot of affection for One-Day finals at Lords.

On Saturday, however, the man they call Oscar wouldn't have opened the curtains if Glamorgan and Gloucestershire had played out this season's Benson and Hedges final in his own back garden!

Still stinging from Lancashire's exit in the semi-finals, Austin was gutted at missing out on his ninth appearance in a major One-Day final.

So what better way to get it out his system than to lead his old club Haslingden into the semi-finals of the Worsley Cup.

It was at Bentgate during the early 80s that Austin began to make a name for himself as a handy young amateur cricketer.

These days, whenever he returns to make the odd guest appearance, he is treated like the prodigal son and it's not difficult to see why.

It was Austin's swashbuckling half-century which ultimately swung this contest Haslingden's way.

On a track which offered some encourgement for the bowlers, it needed someone to grasp the nettle.

And, after opener Paul Blackledge laid the foundations with a sparkling 40 -- which included three sixes -- it was Austin who came up with the goods. His quickfire 50 came off just 66 balls.

With Stuart Taylor (39) offering valuable support, the pair put on 75 for the fourth wicket. And that was ultimately instrumental in the home side amassing 186-9 from their 50 overs, despite Matt Hope's sterling 4-23.

"It was one of those games where somebody just had to stop there and add a bit of backbone," said Austin. "But Stuart Taylor also played a great little innings and upped the tempo when it was needed. And I thought 180 wasn't a bad score on there because there was a little bit in it for the bowlers."

For Lowerhouse to stand any chance, they needed a big innings from professional Martin van Jaarsveld.

And that was even further evident once openers Nicky Hope (8) and Frank Entwhistle (6) had departed with just 16 on the board.

But, after a couple of stylish boundaries, the South African had his middle stump removed by a real snorter from Taylor.

And when Chris Bleazard then holed out to Neil Grindrod at deep mid-wicket as Lowerhouse slumped to 76-4, the writing was firmly on the wall.

Strangely, Austin had little success with the ball. But it needn't have mattered as the impressive Ian Cameron snapped up 3-12 in a scinitillating spell.

And Taylor chipped in with a couple of cheap wickets late on to take his tally to 4-15 as Lowerhouse were skittled for a paltry 128 with four overs to spare.

"We said at the interval, if we bowl anything like then we will make it very difficult for them," said Austin.

"So we just set our stall out to defend because that's all you need to do in a straight knock out. And it worked a treat."

So what of Hassy's chances of going on to win it?

"They've got a great chance," said Austin."There's a few lads still here who were around when I was an amateur so they know what the script is because they've been there and done it.

"And they've got a few good young lads coming through at the moment which also augars well for the future."I hope they can do it. I always enjoy coming back and playing for Haslingden because I still have a lot of affection for the club and the people here."

The club clearly has a lot of affection for him, too.