BRILLIANT Bacup scorched into the semi-finals of the Worsley Cup as they rocked Todmorden by coasting to a four-wicket win on Saturday.

The hero of the day was amateur ace Paul Gallagher, who fell just six runs short of a century, but professional Michael Smith was not far behind in the honours as he won the battle of the Boks against Todmorden’s David Weise.

As Centre Vale sweltered on a burning hot day, Todmorden batted first on a concrete-like track which offered pace and bounce.

And in the early stages, that pace and bounce suited the home side as skipper Simon Newbitt went after Joe Sipocz and Joe McCluskie.

Both bowlers were at times guilty of dropping it short to the free-hitting Newbitt - and that was a source of frustration, especially as McCluskie was causing genuine problems when he got his range.

He was also bowling some mean bouncers – but, again, the pressure was lifted as he was twice no-balled for the short stuff.

Todmorden had reached 51 before David Warren knocked over Newbitt with a yorker before Andrew Spencer got in on the act.

His impact was instant from the Centre Vale Park end and his first delivery almost sent Nick Barker back as he got one to jag up into the batsman’s gloves and almost onto the stumps.

That was close, the next one was out as he trapped Barker leg before and Tod were 55-2.

But Ben Sutcliffe was batting well and he was joined at the crease by Weise, who was in the mood.

Warren felt the full force of the South African as he went for three successive fours, although one of them was a streaky edge to the boundary, and even the spin of Smith was not unduly troubling Weise.

He coasted into his 40s and then brought up his 50 with a gigantic straight six into the park off Smith.

It was a massive hit and was still travelling upwards as it went over the trees. Some strike.

But Weise was not to survive much longer and he was out for 55 as Smith caught a corker at mid-wicket off Henry Butcher.

Sutcliffe passed his 50 before edging Smith through to Gallagher and despite 32 from Alastair Sutcliffe and 35 from Matthew Brierley, Todmorden didn’t take off as they could have done and 247-9 was a fair way short of what it could have been.

That was largely down to McCluskie’s second - and much better - spell and he finished with 3-40, while Smith also claimed three wickets.

Bacup set about their target with gusto and after the early loss of Antony Taylor, Gallagher and Smith batted beautifully.

They shared a 145-run stand for the second wicket to really put themselves in the driving seat, even after the departure of Smith for an excellent 75-ball 60.

Tim Farragher made 18 and even the wicket of Gallagher just six short of what would have been a glorious ton couldn’t stop the Bacup charge.

Gallagher faced 103 balls and hit 15 fours in his knock – and then McCluskie’s 35 took Bacup to the brink. Spencer and Adam Highley took them over the line and into the semi-final with 13 balls left.

Todmorden innings

SD Newbitt b Warren 25
BD Sutcliffe c Gallagher b Smith 61
N Barker lbw b Spencer 1
Wiese c Smith b Butcher 55
A Sutcliffe c Gallagher b Smith 32
AJ Harrison c McCluskie b Smith 6
MJ Brierley c Taylor b McCluskie 35
SR Barker c Farragher b McCluskie 0
OE Wood c Gallagher b McCluskie 0
J Whitehead not out 3
JNH Morgan not out 0
Extras 29
Total (9 wickets) 247
Sipocz 7 0 51 0, McCluskie 9 0 40 3, Warren 10 1 45 1, Spencer 10 1 42 1, Smith 10 0 41 3, Butcher 4 0 21 1.

Bacup innings

PAP Gallagher c Newbitt b Morgan 94
A Taylor c A Sutcliffe b SR Barker 8
Smith c Whitehead b A Sutcliffe 60
TM Farragher c Harrison b N Barker 18
J McCluskie lbw b Wiese 35
A Spencer not out 9
A Fielding c and b N Barker 0
A Highley not out 2
Extras 22
Total (6 wickets) 248
Wiese 10 0 54 1, SR Barker 6 0 47 1, Morgan 10 0 36 1, N Barker 9.5 0 46 2, A Sutcliffe 10 0 38 1, Wood 2 0 20 0.

Bacup won by 4 wickets.