RAMSBOTTOM edged into a second successive Worsley Cup final after a thrilling win over Burnley in the gathering gloom late on Sunday night.

And delighted skipper Jon Fielding can’t praise his men enough as they came through to book their spot in next month’s showpiece.

“It was unbelievable,” said Fielding. “It was draining from start to finish with a big crowd staying right until the end at quarter to 10.

“It was an amazing game.”

Ramsbottom’s two-run win was certainly one of the most dramatic games in the cup’s history as the balance swung between the two.

Ramsbottom slumped to 8-4 as they batted first only for professional Francois du Plessis and Fielding to turn it around.

They added a record 191 for the fifth wicket in a match-turning stand until Fielding was caught by Farhaan Behardien off Bharat Tripathi (3-60) for a swashbuckling 95, including eight fours and three sixes.

South African du Plessis reached his century and was finally out for 111, including eight fours and two sixes, caught and bowled by his fellow countryman and Titans team-mate Behardien, who was later to play his own very large part in the drama.

Ramsbottom closed on 249-9 and were favourites – and were right in the box seat when Burnley were reduced to 73-4.

But Behardien was brilliant, even when his side slipped to 148-8 and seemingly out of the game.

He punished the bowling and shared a ninth-wicket stand of 93 with Graham Lalor, who made just one in that partnership.

It seemed that Burnley were going to win as Behardien, who had smashed a century in the Lancashire League on Saturday at Rawtenstall, marched on but after hitting a sensational 175 with 18 fours and seven sixes, he was caught and bowled by du Plessis.

That left Burnley needing nine runs from nine balls – but Lalor and James Capstick fell just two runs short as the tie was sealed at 9.42pm.

“Faf batted really well and their professional was also tremendous,” added Fielding.

“I thought we had lost it, to be honest. His knock was brilliant so we were delighted to get through.”

Fielding is now looking for a double and are third in the table just five points behind league leaders East Lancashire.

But they will lose du Plessis after this weekend’s game at Enfield as he returns home and Tasmanian Alex Doolan fills in as professional until the end of the season.

“Faf has become something of a legend for us,” added Fielding.

“He has been brilliant for us and took the best catch I have ever seen on Friday night in the Twenty20 against Nelson. In the field he is something else.

“And we are excited about Alex coming in. I have spoken to people who know him and he is a good player.

“And now we want to kick on in the league.”

Ramsbottom innings

KT Webb c Burton b Behardien 0
J Pilling c Burton b Lalor 0
du Plessis c and b Behardien 111
DM Bell c Burton b Lalor 3
AW Bell c Burton b Lalor 0
JM Fielding c Behardien b B Tripathi 95
RE Read st Burton b B Tripathi 3
A Caunce lbw b B Tripathi 0
RLE Brown c Tate b Lalor 9
A Hakin not out 12
Extras 16
Total (9 wickets) 249
Behardien 10 2 35 2, Lalor 9 2 30 4, B Tripathi 10 0 60 3, Capstick 10 0 40 0, Brunt 4 0 21 0, Kelly 3 0 22 0, Tate 2 0 15 0, V Tripathi 2 0 19 0.

Burnley innings

V Tripathi c Caunce b Hakin 17
MQ Ali c Webb b Hakin 0
Behardien c and b du Plessis 175
DD Pickup c and b du Plessis 3
MR Kelly c Brown b du Plessis 0
CT Burton st Caunce b Brown 22
B Tripathi lbw b Fielding 0
SR Brunt lbw b Fielding 1
A Tate st Caunce b Fielding 4
GF Lalor not out 9
J Capstick not out 2
Extras 14
Total (9 wickets) 247
Haslam 10 1 50 0, Hakin 10 1 50 2, Brown 10 0 48 1, du Plessis 10 1 50 3, Fielding 10 1 47 3.

Ramsbottom won by 2 runs.